Another chunk of Saanich is likely to be permitted secondary suites by the end of the year.
“It won’t be all of the Saanich,” said Mayor Frank Leonard, adding he doesn’t know which neighbourhoods will be targeted under phase two of the program.
“There will be certain groups of neighbourhoods where the staff can do a community consultation in a reasonable way — a manageable way — and then after the community consultation, a report will come to council on legalizing suites.”
In 2010, Saanich council unanimously legalized secondary suites in the municipality south of McKenzie Avenue, to Tolmie Avenue and to Foul Bay Road. That included neighbourhoods such as Gorge-Tillicum, Rainbow Park, Mount View-Colquitz, Quadra-Cedar Hill, Mount Tolmie and Camosun.
Regulations permit only one secondary suite per single-family dwelling. It must be located inside the house, not in an accessory building; the owner of the house must live on-site; one additional off-street parking spot must be provided for the suite’s tenant, and the suite must pass a building inspection. As well, there can be only two kitchens in the entire building.
Municipalities in Greater Victoria have different policies toward secondary suites. Some, such as Victoria and Central Saanich, allow them, while others, such as Oak Bay, are studying the issue and have yet to make a decision.
A 2007 review of Saanich’s official community plan showed that almost 75 per cent of people supported secondary suites as a form of affordable housing.
The area south of McKenzie Avenue was chosen because it was large enough to capture a broad range of neighbourhoods, single-family housing types, lot sizes and subdivision patterns, yet small enough to have more in-depth discussions with residents.
Key to determining the next neighbourhoods will be having areas where adequate and effective consultation is possible, Leonard said.
“We’re hoping that we wouldn’t be re-inventing the wheel,” he said.
“We certainly wouldn’t want to have different rules for different parts of Saanich.”
Leonard said he has received very few complaints since the suites became legal, but admits the first phase was in the easiest area to do.
There are some neighbourhoods, such as Broadmead, where suites are prohibited by covenant, he said.
“Even if we changed the bylaw, the covenant that is within Broadmead amongst property owners would still prevail.”
