Tantramar council has agreed to kickstart a change to Sackville and Dorchester zoning bylaws to make it possible for property owners to add detached garden suites to properties in the residential R1 zone.
Currently, the zoning bylaw only allows homeowners in the R1 zone to add internally attached units or granny suites to their existing buildings. But a motion put forward by Councillor Josh Goguen on Tuesday asks Plan 360 to look at ways to change the rule to allow for detached garden suites on R1 properties.
Goguen told councillors the recommendation came from the Mayor’s Roundtable on Housing and direct engagement with constituents, and read a prepared statement after making the motion.
“As is widely acknowledged, our community faces a significant housing shortage,” said Goguen, “further compounded by escalating construction costs.”
“This approach presents a viable solution to alleviate current housing pressures while optimizing the utilization of existing land resources,” he said.
Goguen said he’s heard from residents interested in the feasibility of the policy change, and named a list of “potential beneficiaries,” including:
- grandparents seeking to maintain close proximity to their grandchildren while requiring smaller living spaces,
- parents aiming to provide their children with greater degree of independence beyond residing in a basement suite,
- and homeowners seeking to generate supplementary income through rental opportunities.
He also cited “strong alignment” with the federal government’s secondary suite loan program, and said several municipalities have implemented by-laws to allow garden suites.
“Riverview and Moncton both mandate such structures to be erected behind the primary residence, adhere to a maximum square footage of 807 square feet and be connected to municipal water and sewer,” said Goguen.
Council unanimously approved Goguen’s motion without comment or debate on Tuesday. And now the task will fall to Plan 360 to come up with possible amendments, which will come back to council for further consideration and a public hearing before approval.
Amendment to 20X20 rule coming for public hearing January 27
Another zoning bylaw amendment is due back to council for a public hearing in just under two weeks time.
Emilie McBride and Natalie Donaher have requested an amendment to allow for varied dimensions in the permitted size of Sackville’s minimum residential dwelling.
Right now buildings must be a minimum of 20 feet by 20 feet, which had stymied McBride’s plans to install a small rectangular prebuilt home on her property last year.
After the public hearing on January 27, the amendment will need to come back to council for three readings, over at least two meetings.
