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Real estate board asks city to relax parking rules on secondary units

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The North Bay Real Estate Board says a proposed policy to allow for secondary units or accessory dwellings to be added to just about any home in the city will provide much-needed help to first-time buyers.

“It will allow a lot more first-time buyers to get into the market knowing there's income coming in from theses homes,” board president Steve Liddle said Tuesday. “They can utilize this income with the banks for their mortgage.”

The city is considering amendments to its official plan and zoning bylaw to allow for secondary units in single-detached, semi-detached, townhouses or accessory structures in new and existing dwellings in all residential zones throughout the city.

The proposed amendments are aimed at promoting home ownership, creating additional affordable units and assisting with an aging demographic.

Liddle, who appeared before council during a public planning meeting, said current restrictions that limit secondary units to certain zones have led to the creation of many illegal units which aren't recognized by banks as income properties.

“Hopefully, this is going to resolve a lot of those and let people take advantage of them to their fullest. Because, right now, people can't count on that income,” he said, noting the proposed new policy also will allow people to move up the property ladder and benefit the local economy.

“There's going to be people reinvesting into their home, being able to make a quality secondary unit, and there's just going to be spinoff growth from that.”

In addition, Liddle said, more secondary dwelling units will help fill local demand from multi-generational families that want to be under on roof.

“There's a real shortage of that in North Bay now. I'm dealing with a lot of clients who are looking for this and it is very limited,” he said, noting the board's only real concern regards the proposed parking rules under the policy.

Staff is suggesting property owners interested in having a secondary dwelling unit would need to be able to accommodate one additional parking spot. In most areas of the city, that would mean a total of three spaces.

But Liddle said the real estate board believes the requirement will limit the number of people able to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the policy.

“It's not something this city should mandate to have done,” he said, suggesting it be left to property owners to decide if additional parking is required.

Liddle pointed to public transit, noting many apartments in the city don't have parking presently. He also raised concerns about neighbourhood aesthetics should people decide to alter their front yards in order to create additional spaces.

Under the proposal, secondary dwelling units would be permitted within an existing dwelling or within an accessory dwelling, such as a garage, on the same property.

The rules would require that the existing character of the area remains intact and that secondary units are safe and constructed to the appropriate codes.

Secondary units on properties which front onto Trout Lake or within 300 metres of major inflowing streams to Trout Lake would not be permitted due to existing restrictions on new development.

And, any new entrances would have to be at the side or rear of the dwelling. Owners who want to add a secondary dwelling would have to apply to the city for a change of use permit.

Staff also is proposing a listing or registry of secondary dwelling units for emergency response and city service requirements.

Provincial legislation passed in 2011 requires that municipalities have official plan policies and zoning bylaw provisions to permit secondary dwellings. Municipalities, however, have the right to shape the rules to meet community needs. 

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