City wants first say on second suites

News

Posted By BOB BRUTON

Posted 2 months ago

The city is regaining the reins on second suites in Barrie.

After the province took steps earlier this year to over-ride city policy that restricts new two-unit homes and basement apartments, Barrie councillors objected.

Coun. Mike Ramsay, whose Ward 1 area has been plagued by second suites in homes, said the provincial plan would have allowed them in any Barrie residential area.

"There are still opportunities for second suites in the city," said Jim Taylor, Barrie's planning director, of the ministry changes, "but it still allows (council and staff) to determine where second suites are located."

He said every application for a basement apartment is judged on its merit, but the city maintains a measure of control under the new plan.

The city received a ministry draft decision page in late January on its new OP, which requires provincial approval, that staff said was inconsistent with the city's second suite policy. It was also contrary to Barrie's Georgian College Neighbourhood Strategy and Community Improvement Plan.

City council then passed a motion that told the province it has serious concerns about the proposed modifications relating to second suites.

Barrie's OP is expected, by the province, to conform with its provincial growth policy -- Places to Grow.

The city's downtown area has been designated, under this policy, as an Urban Growth Centre -- a community where people can live, work and play. In other words, it's to be a complete community.

The province says second suites are considered a means of housing intensification, adding to rental stock and housing affordability.

It said Barrie should modify its OP to say, "the city will encourage the creation of secondary suites throughout the built-up areas, including secondary plan areas and in designated greenfield areas."

Council formally objected to this in a letter to the ministry.

"In response to this letter, the ministry has removed the proposed modification ... which explicitly permitted second suites as a right throughout the city," Taylor said.

The ministry has said basement apartments are still permitted, but council had some discretion and can consider the existing character of neighbourhoods.

These changes are to be part of the city's OP, but it does not have provincial approval. Four appeals to the OP need to be settled first.

At one point, two-unit homes were seen -- in existing houses -- as the quickest solution to Barrie's affordable housing problem, and to the city's small rental vacancy rate, because the homes are already built.

But there were concerns about second suites not meeting fire regulations and property standards designed to protect occupants. Second suites in the east-end raised safety, parking and building regulation concerns.

A special city zoning was created, but only for new homes, not existing ones. The regulations for existing two-unit houses came later.

In early 2004, Barrie council passed a bylaw requiring owners of two-unit houses, or basement apartments -- sometimes called second suites -- to register their properties with the city.

bbruton@thebarrieexaminer.com

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What's on tap at tonight's Barrie city council meeting

Barrie councillors will consider a bylaw to prohibit abandoning shopping carts by people, or businesses.

Councillors will consider reappointing Ross Archer as a director of Barrie Hydro Holdings Inc., from July 1 until Dec. 1, 2010. Archer is a former Barrie mayor and Barrie Hydro chairman.

City planner Stacey Forfar, and Ross Rodgers, Clare Mitchell and Caresse Ley of the Historic Neighbourhoods Strategy Community Committee will make a presentation to councillors.

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