The city wants to hear your thoughts on secondary suites.
It’s hosting an open house on the subject tomorrow night (Aug. 20) from 6:00 to 8:00pm at the Willow Point Hall.
A bylaw amendment is being proposed that will allow secondary suites in all single-family residences.
The driving force behind the bylaw is low vacancy rates and affordability.
Campbell River is experiencing the lowest vacancy rate and highest housing prices it’s ever seen.
In 2013, there were an estimated 350 legal suites and 250 illegal suites in Campbell River.
Back then, the city’s rental vacancy rate in 2013 was 7.5 percent.
Despite the 211 new apartment units constructed between 2013 and 2018, the vacancy rate has dropped to 0.5 percent.
The city says allowing secondary suites provides an option that could help provide more rental housing and provide a mortgage helper for homeowners without a lot of added government cost.
Mayor Andy Adams said the bylaw has been presented to council for the first reason and from there, the staff has been directed to do public consultation, particularly with those in the development community and affordable housing agencies around town.
Currently, if property owners want to build suites in their homes and the zoning doesn’t allow for it, they have to apply for a zoning change on their property.
“The costs of that application alone are about $3,000, and the process involves a public hearing, which is daunting for many people,” the city says.
“Allowing suites in more zones would save these property owners the time, effort, and money required to rezone their properties.”
Adams notes that while vacancy rates are at an all-time low, the city has seen record construction growth.
“When you take a look at the apartments being built along (Highway) 19A and also along Dogwood (Street) and now up on Birch Street, we certainly are increasing our inventory of rental accommodation,” he said. “Secondary suites are another opportunity to do some affordable infill within the urban containment boundary, but we need to be respectful of the individual neighbourhoods as well, and that’s what the public open house is full.”
Adams said not everyone is on board with secondary suites.
“We did hear in two previous public hearings regarding secondary suite applications that they were not in favour of it, so we do know that there are some areas that may not be as receptive as others.”
However, he added that allowing secondary suites helps young families get into the housing market.
“That creates a win/win situation,” he said.
The city’s final open house on secondary suites is Sept. 5.
