Fairfield & Gonzales residents are navigating major changes to zoning, density, heritage protection, trees, waterfront areas, traffic and infrastructure. This site brings those local concerns together with current 2026 election information and links to candidate information.
Our Fairfield & Gonzales, Our Victoria is a neighbourhood-focused community site about decisions affecting Fairfield and Gonzales.
The focus is land use, heritage, environment, infrastructure and access to current municipal election information.
Through recent changes in the Official Community Plan, Fairfield and Gonzales have been designated for four-storey buildings throughout, with a minimum setback of only 1.5 m (5'), raising concerns about green space and light for adjacent buildings.
Around Fairfield Plaza, and stretching along St. Charles Street, six-storey buildings can be built. Commercial buildings are anticipated and encouraged near Gonzales Beach.
Residents have also raised concerns about community consultation, affordability, pressure on schools and community centres, property-tax increases, illegal beach camping and fires, green space, wildlife and reduced heritage protection.
These photographs capture the contrast residents are discussing: large construction projects rising alongside established residential streets. The conversation is about how new housing fits into the neighbourhood, including building scale, light and setbacks.
Photographs supplied by community members. The buildings shown are examples of local construction, not proof of a zoning violation.
Garry oaks and the camas meadows around them are part of the region’s distinctive natural heritage. Mature trees, habitat and connected green spaces deserve attention when changes to neighbourhood land use are considered.
Photo credits: David Stanley, CC BY 2.0 (left); Kiwican, Wikimedia Commons (right). Photographs show regional ecosystems, not necessarily sites within Fairfield or Gonzales.
From the shoreline to green spaces and the wildlife sharing them, these are the everyday views that make Fairfield & Gonzales distinctive.
Neighbourhood photographs supplied by local residents.
The sections below use the material supplied by Fairfield & Gonzales residents and organize it around the issues they identified.
Fairfield's contiguous streetscapes of heritage homes and small apartment buildings, and Gonzales' examples of prominent historic architects such as McClure, are assets residents want preserved and protected.
Residents support multi-unit housing that is designed to avoid unnecessary negative impacts on neighbouring properties.
Residents are seeking stronger protection for unique trees and groups of trees, especially Garry oaks and the trees that support camas meadows and associated habitat. Once removed, mature ecosystems cannot simply be replaced.
With ocean along the southwest side of Fairfield & Gonzales, residents also want waterfront and public spaces protected from zoning changes that could damage the marine ecosystem.
Residents report increasing traffic congestion and want school and park-zone speed limits enforced, along with vehicle-noise rules on Dallas Road, Hollywood Crescent and Beach Drive.
They also want infrastructure costs assessed before development approval, clear developer contributions, and usable green and play space rather than relying only on rooftops in an area exposed to high winds.
A major concern is whether new units will actually be affordable to the families the housing policies are intended to help. Schools, community centres and other local infrastructure also need capacity to support population growth.
The neighbourhood campaign points voters to the published candidate recommendations and voting guide below.
See the published candidate recommendations and supporting election material from Sustainable Victoria Network.
View Candidate RecommendationsOpen the published voting guide for election information and voting resources.
Open Voting GuideNeed the complete ballot? View the City of Victoria's official candidate information.
The term “Gang of Five” is used in Victoria political commentary for Jeremy Caradonna, Matt Dell, Susan Kim, Krista Loughton and Dave Thompson. The label is not an official City designation.
Five votes on a nine-member council can determine the outcome of a council vote when the five vote together.
Major decisions can be examined through council minutes, recorded votes and City reports.
Residents can compare consultation processes and council decisions on neighbourhood planning.
Council records and public reports provide the basis for comparing approaches to public safety.
Budgets, grants and recorded votes are available for public review.
City bylaws and policies can be compared with how individual matters were handled.
The terminology above is attributed to published Victoria political commentary rather than presented as an official designation.
Voting information should be easy to find. The City of Victoria has the 2026 voting dates, locations, mail-ballot information, accessibility options and ID requirements online.
Explore other community organizations across Victoria.