Secondary suite restrictions loosened in GP
Changes to the city's Land Use Bylaw will see fewer restrictions for secondary suites.
The changes were approved by city council at the June 17 regular council meeting after almost two weeks of deliberation and a request from BILD Grande Prairie in April to loosen secondary suite restrictions.
Changes to the bylaw include allowing secondary suites in semi-detached dwellings, expanding density limits in neighbourhoods, removing floor area restrictions for suites in basements, eliminating minimum lot width, and requiring one parking stall per bedroom per secondary suite.
“We need suites,” said Coun. Wade Pilat noting that more affordability options are needed in the city.
In April, BILD Grande Prairie said there is a shortage of lower-cost entry homes in the city.
“Many municipalities in Alberta are implementing increases to density and access to lower cost housing by relaxing landless land use bylaws and incentivizing secondary suites,” said Jordan Gregson, BILD chair.
“Allowing homeowners to create secondary suites enables them to qualify for higher mortgages which, with the cost of housing as high as it's ever been, not only benefits individual homeowners but also contributes to the overall stability and resilience of our housing market as it's ever-changing.”
The city changed the density of secondary suites from three within a 50-metre radius to eight within a 30-metre radius.
Coun. Dylan Bressey said he keeps hearing from residents that they do not want the Westpointe neighbourhood pattern repeated across the city. He noted that there are now bylaws ensuring that Westpointe is not recreated, including parking requirements and a minimum roadway width.
“I don't think we're going to see what we've seen in previous builds in the community,” he said.
Bylaw changes also include increasing the maximum size of secondary suites.
Previously, secondary suites were restricted to being 40 per cent of the primary dwelling floor area or 80 metres squared (whichever is smaller) but now there is no maximum for basement suites that are entirely in basements, and sets the cap at 100 metres squared for above-ground suites.
The minimum lot width was also removed from the bylaw. Previously, regulations required a minimum lot length of 11 metres with a laneway or 12.2 metres without. Now, lot length determines the number of allowable bedrooms in a secondary suite on the property.
Lots under 9.2 metres in width will be allowed a one-bedroom suite, while lots up to 12 metres are permitted two-bedroom suites; lots larger than 12.2 metres are allowed three-bedroom suites.
The previous bylaw only allowed a maximum of two-bedroom secondary suites.
Backyard suites
An additional report is expected to come back to city council on garden/backyard suites.
Garage suites are currently allowed in the city, but internal parking spots must be included.
One suggestion from the city administration was allowing backyard suites that would be self-contained dwellings. Council decided to remove this from the bylaw and instead look further into it at a future committee meeting.
“I am concerned about the aesthetics of what a backyard suite would look like,” said Coun. Wendy Bosch.
Coun. Grant Berg also noted that under the proposed bylaw, the amendments for backyard suites would allow some to be larger than the primary residence. City administration said council could make decisions on allowable sizes of backyard suites.
The report on backyard suites is expected at a committee meeting, and sizes, design, and engagement plans will be considered.
Jesse Boily, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Town & Country News
