Arguing over additional suites

Charlottetown city council defers portion of new zoning and development bylaw

Charlottetown is replacing the zoning and development bylaw with a new one and creating a separate heritage preservation bylaw with the objective of preservation and restoration over redevelopment.

Though both resolutions moved by Coun. Greg Rivard and seconded by Coun. Terry MacLeod, passed in city council 9-0, some members of council were looking for clarification on ways to regulate the proposed zoning and development bylaw, specifically around accessory apartments.

The matter was deferred in order to allow planning staff to take it back and find additional ways to regulate the accessory apartment piece.

Since then, planning staff along with a consultant came back with additional amendments to accessory apartments to further regulate the apartments.

It was approved recently at a special council meeting.

The existing in-law suite regulations only permit family members of property owners to rent in-law suites.

The resolution suggested removing the city’s regulations around in-law suites will, in turn, create more housing opportunities and home ownership and could support access to affordable housing.

Rivard noted the planning committee is trying to move away from the terminology “in-law” suites and call additional living spaces added to a home ‘accessory apartments.’

More than 70 per cent of municipalities across the country allow accessory apartments, he said.

“It helps with affordable housing, it gives new home owners, young people an opportunity to buy a home and have a revenue source.”

Rivard said there are positives to setting up the framework for accessory apartments.

“I look around Charlottetown now and I see a number of illegal apartments.”

If people want to have apartments (even nonconforming), they will find a way to do it, Rivard said.

He estimates there are 800 in the city now that don’t conform.

Rivard said the new regulation is making sure the accessory apartments have to conform, in other words meet building and fire codes.

Rivard said he thinks accessory apartments could ease some housing issues.

“The media right now talks about affordable housing (and) talks about the city of Charlottetown not doing enough. We have vacancy rates in apartments right now less than one per cent. The housing market is down so low I saw an article in the paper recently of a woman having to live in her car at Walmart.”

“It helps with affordable housing, it gives new home owners, young people an opportunity to buy a home and have a revenue source.” Coun. Greg Rivard