4 - Friday, November 1, 1996 ~ North Shore News Secondary Suites may be legalized By Martin Millerchip Contributing Writer SECONDARY suites could become an elec- tion issue in North Vancouver District fol- lowing a council deci- sion Monday. A 6-1 majority directed staff to prepare a bylaw legal- izing the controversial accom- modations subject to certain conditions. “Thank you for the oppor- tunity to live in an inclusive community,” Heather Stevens told council. Stevens has single-handed- iy been lobbying council for seven years to legalize sec- - ondary suites as a means of providing affordable rental accommodation in the dis- trict. But Delbrook resident Larry Crosby accused council of making the move without any real committee work or public mandate. “If this goes through,” argued Crosby, “there will be nowhere to’ move to in the district where you can count on living in a single-family neighborihcod. “That doesn’t sound like very good planning to me.” But the reality of bylaw preparation means that ic will ° probably be the new council that gets to vote on whether to send legalizing amend-. ments as Proposed t to “public hearing. “This will be an issue at the local election,” noted: Coun. Pam Goldsmith- Jones. Coun. Pon Bell who, as mayor-elect, will oversee future debate on the issue, said that while he did not agree with all the measures contained in Coun. Ernie Crist’s motion he could sup- port it going to public hearing as an opportunity for public input. Crist’s motion that the suites be legalized with the fol- lowing require: ments: @ they pro- vide one additional off-street parking space; M they nor exceed the lesser of 968 sq. ft. or 40% of the resi- dential floor space; @ the owner of the Louse lives in either the principal or secondary suite; @ only onc suite be per- mitted in a single-family resi- dence; and | Wi such suites only be permit- ted in single-family zones. The bylaw provisions do not SUBBESTS to move “require all suites to be imme- diately inspected. - That inspection will only take place upon the owner's request or upon written com- plaint. and where a suite has been constructed without a permit. Social planner = Mark Bostwick told councit that the i able to afford a cetlular phone. ’ CHOOSE ANY ONE OF FIVE FREE PHONES, Prime Time COMMUNICATIONS a. “If this goes through there wili be nowhere district where you can count on living single- eighborhood. That doesn’t pl sound like very good planning 1 to me.” — Daibrook resident proposed bylaw “sets a stan- dard that people need nor fear.” He said that a requirement to register for inspection and pay fees “encourages people not fo report suites or deti- ciencies within suites.” He suggested that council would be creating “a breath- ing space at the beginning” and could examine the issues of registra- tion and water — fees later. The province has recently amended the : Building tointhe code requirements for secondary suites. Those suites found to be in con- travention will be given a reasonable time to com- ina family Safety haz- ards will have be recti- fied immedi- ately, Crist said his motion would — pro- vide = more control than the current situa- tion because of the stipula- tions. “AIL it would take is one singie mother with a child to he evicted and it hit the head- lines and all the brave politi- cians who up to then had been against secondary — suites would be running like hell,” said Crist. Coun. Jim Cuthbert pro- vided the only opposition to Crist’s | motion, although Coun. Pat Munroe argued for Larry Crosby f / * First month of local calls free. , * Free weekends. * 100 free weekday evening minutes a month, and 10¢ a minute after that. * Free activation. "When Service Cousnés" + > NORTH VANCOUVER SUPERSTORE 1480 Marine Drive (across srom Burger King) 990-9221 Mon. - Sat. 10:00 - 6:00 Fri. 9:00 - 5:30 Richmond 108-1 1400 Bridgeport * On black west of No. 5 Rd. Surrey 50-16330 152nd St. © Across irom Guildford Vancouver Pacific Centre Mall ¢ Dunsmuir Skywalk Abbotsford #4-32465 South Fraser Way © Acroos for Safeway. I- 800-387-9500 Toll Free ‘Free 8 INFORMED: Based on a 36-month transferable con: tract. Annual cadio system licensing fee of $48, long distance charges and taxes extra. Early cancellation fees apply. New customers only, OAC, $2595 © 55¢ per minute weekdays. 278-4949 583-5708 685-1001 §59-1411 Limited time offer, Unlimited By wweekands start Friday at 6:00 gm end end Monday at 7:00 am, Weekday evenings start at Ht OC pm and end at 7:00 am, All times are for the Pacific Time Zane. a registration systern for all suites with higher fees after three months for late regis- trants. “We asa council have no mandate to undertake such a mammoth undertaking in our zoning,” said Coun. fim Cuthbert. He argued that district- wide referendum on the suite issue should have been includ- ed on the ballot in the munic- ipal election but was unable to get second for his motion to thar effecr. A similar motion was defeated at a Sept. 23 meeting of council. Coun. Janice Harris said secondary suites can be mor.- gage helpers for new families, provide security for seniors still at home and provide housing for those who can’t afford to buy a house. “Secondary suites current- ly constirate a vital compo- nent of the district’s afford- able rental housing stock,” said Harris. “hey exist now, have existed and will no doubt continue to exist throughout our neighborhoods regardless of whether they are allowed or not.” The district’s current poli- cy is to close secondary suites that have been the subject of written complainc. North Vancouver City per- mits secondary suites subject to the same provisions. sug- gested in the district but requires inspection, Secondary suites are not per- mitted in West Vancouver. Name: Allan Arvid Mattson Age: 22 Offence: impaired driving, having a blood alco- hol greater than .08. Call NV RCMP at 985-1311. Name: Daniel Duffin Amold Age: 31 Offence: theft under $5,000 x2, possessing stolen property and . mischief. Call. NV RCMP at 985-1311. FUTON SOFABED..