At their regular meeting on May 26th, Council directed staff to bring forward a bylaw to amend the Zoning Bylaw to permit secondary suites in ground-oriented housing types and lock-off units in apartment buildings. 

Secondary Suites in Ground-Oriented Housing  

The proposed Zoning Bylaw amendments would allow secondary suites for all ground-oriented housing types in the Township. The table below identifies both the housing types that currently allow secondary suites and those proposed for inclusion. The maximum allowable gross floor area for secondary suites is proposed to remain unchanged at 120 m2. 

Interim parking requirements are proposed at one additional parking space for a secondary suite, resulting in a total of two spaces for manorhomes and three spaces for semi-detached, townhouses and rowhouses. This additional parking space is intended to reduce demand for on-street parking. As a result, secondary suites will largely be limited to new developments that can accommodate the additional parking requirements. 

Lock-off Units in Apartments  

Proposed amendments to the Zoning Bylaw would allow lock-off units in all apartment buildings in the Township. The size of lock-off units is proposed to be limited to a maximum of 45 m2 (484 ft2 ), similar to “studio units” identified in section 107.3 (a)(iii) of the Zoning Bylaw. Township bylaws have not historically established minimum floor areas for dwellings, including apartments or secondary suites.  

Consistent with this approach, the following draft design criteria are proposed for lock-off units:  

• be designed for convenient use as an extension of the principal dwelling unit through a connecting door or vestibule  

• have access to the exterior of the principal dwelling unit either directly or through the connecting vestibule  

• have the ability to be made secure and private from the principal dwelling unit  

• provide a living space that is a minimum of 4.0 m in both width and length  

• provide a set of cooking facilities that include, at a minimum, a sink, a cooking heat source and a refrigerator  

• provide a minimum of 3.7 m2 of closet space  

Interim parking requirements are proposed at an additional 0.5 parking spaces for a lock-off unit. This is based on the 2018 Regional Parking Study: Technical Report prepared by Metro Vancouver, which indicates average parking needed for rental apartments of all sizes falls between 0.35 and 0.99 space each. A studio apartment with a lock-off unit would require 1.5 spaces, and a one-plus bedroom unit with a lock-off would require two spaces. 

Applicable Policies and Financial Implications  

The implementation of secondary suites and lock-off units would be impacted by several Township policies. Notably, as apartments with lock-off units provide owners with an additional bedroom to use according to their choice, staff propose allowing a two bedroom unit with a lockoff to qualify as a three-bedroom unit under the Township’s family-friendly housing policy.  

Next Steps 

Staff will bring forward an amending bylaw to implement the changes proposed in the report. Staff will then consider the implications of secondary suites and lock-off units in a forthcoming review of the development cost charges bylaw; and reconsider the parking requirements proposed here for secondary suites and lock-off units in a forthcoming parking study. 

Additional information can be found in the  full report by Township staff.