DWV considers easing secondary suite parking regulations
West Vancouverites with registered secondary suites may have one less parking spot to worry about soon as council passed the second reading of an amendment to its secondary suite bylaw Monday night.
The amendment, if it passes third reading and final adoption, will require residences with secondary suites to have two on-site parking spots, one less than what was originally mandated. The impetus for the potential change, said West Van spokesperson Jessica Delaney, came as a result of some smaller lots being unable to house three spots.
The only dissenting voice on the issue was Coun. Bill Soprovich. In a phone interview with The Outlook, Soprovich said he voted against the amendment because he felt it “allowed concessions to the few and not the vast majority.”
“Most will not be able to do this anyway,” he said.
“I just felt that this particular idea was one that wasn’t going to make a very big difference. I’m not too bothered by it but I voted against it to make that statement.”
The deadline to register secondary suites and take advantage of the potential decrease in parking requirements is May 31. After that day, all homes with secondary suites will require three parking spots.
Suites registered before that day will also not be subject to the stringent requirements of the BC Building Code.
At present, West Van bylaw officers are inspecting suites for safety purposes but not for things such as sprinklers, which the BC Building Code calls for. Sprinklers, added Delaney, can represent significant cost to the owner.
West Van council has extended its secondary suite registration deadline in the past but has not yet considered another extension.
For more information on the district’s secondary suite bylaw, visit westvancouver.ca and select the “secondary suites” link under the bylaw and licenses menu.
skolenko@northshoreoutlook.com
twitter.com/seankolenko
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