The District of Maple Ridge will be holding open houses, focus groups, and online surveys in the coming months as it reviews the regulations governing secondary suites after growing complaints about illegal suites.
Staff laid out the district’s review process this week, which will look at owner occupancy requirements, parking impacts, enforcement, and building design, as well as existing zoning bylaw provisions.
As part of the review, staff will be conducting focus groups with local community groups and developers, hosting community-wide open house events, and an online questionnaire to gauge public opinion.
Frank Quinn, Maple Ridge’s general manager of public works and development, said the high number of neighbourhood disputes is driving the process.
“There is no easy answer, but we are hoping to find tools to deal with this,” he said.
Bylaws director Liz Holitzki said the most common complaint the bylaw department receives is concerning secondary suites.
“They tend to come from neighbours close by, usually over parking issues,” she said.
Secondary suites have been allowed in Maple Ridge since 1999, and are currently allowed only in homes on lots 6,000 sq. feet or more, while homes on smaller lots can have temporary residential units, suites that accommodate relatives or caregivers. A mobile home can also be a temporary unit on lots that are larger than an acre.
Current bylaws also require the homeowner to live in the home, something most other cities have given up on because it’s difficult to enforce.
Loosening the restrictions on secondary suites could make home ownership more affordable for some residents, and generate more dollars for the district.
“We need them as mortgage helpers and to provide affordable housing,” said Coun. Mike Morden. “We’re missing an awful lot of tax revenue.”
Possible changes to secondary suit regulations could be to require homeowners to buy a business license, or a secondary suite license, said Coun. Al Hogarth.
However, the review won’t be looking at a total ban of secondary suites, just fine-tune the current regulations.
Staff expect to bring proposals for amendments to the current regulations back to council by this winter.