Saanich suite rules already ignored

Re: “Saanich considers garden suites to boost housing stocks,” March 11. Are Saanich councillors just not aware of what is already happening in their municipality or wilfully blind? It is already happening. Many new builds have the basement suite, plus the backyard “cottage” and, in some cases, a bachelor suite, too.

And then there is the lot in my neighbourhood that also has a basement suite, a garden suite and the home business in the accessory building with signs. There must be a new sign bylaw to permit what I see.

Having regulations permitting a basement suite or a garden suite has already left the barn. Both, on the same lot, are already being built despite what building-permit paperwork might show.

Along with any discussion on “garden suites,” we need a moratorium to stop construction of accessory buildings bigger than nine square metres (100 square feet) which is gardenshed size.

Actually, it is funny to call them garden suites when there is no garden left. The back yard is building and the front yard will be paved for parking. A.E. Topp Saanich