Not so suite

Re: “Secondary suite debate returns to city council; Opposition to rezoning wanes in some areas,” Sept. 22.

We, in Nanaimo, have experience with the legalization of secondary suites. They are popular with politicians, since they help solve the affordable accommodations issue that all levels of government have neglected for years.

The street parking problem, especially related to snow clearing, caused by suites, is serious. When this issue was brought up at council, they passed a rule that properties had to have three parking spaces to be allowed a suite.

But council neglected to make any rules requiring one of the three parking spots to be assigned to the suite, so the three parking spot rule is meaningless. Nor were the parking places required to be viable, i.e., unobstructed. If someone has to move a car, at 3 a.m., to allow access — that is not a viable parking space for a renter.

Allowing suites also encourages people to buy houses as income-producing mini apartment buildings, where the owner is not present on a day-to-day basis. This leads to neglected gardens and poorly maintained houses. This exacerbates issues with dogs and cats running loose.

Since the city assigns very little value to suites in assessment valuations, the additional education, police, fire and other community service costs resulting from suites, raises taxes for all residents — whether they have a suite or not.

Even the federal government tacitly approves of secondary suites. When the home is sold, having a suite does not impact its primary residence capital gains exception.

As a result, if secondary suites are permitted, it rapidly becomes the norm.

A new development in our area has a suite in every unit. If that is the goal, why can’t communities be honest and zone areas as duplexes upfront? That would solve a lot of the problems caused by bringing de facto duplexes in by the back door. Parking, taxation and other issues would be fairly and honestly addressed.

If you buy a home zoned single family, you should reasonably expect truth in advertising, not a governmental sleight of hand.

Steen Petersen, Nanaimo, B.C.