The Town of Stratford may soon loosen up restrictions around secondary suites as a way to provide some more affordable housing options in the community.
The town is currently going through a review of zoning bylaws, with the issue of secondary suites being discussed during last week’s town council meeting.
Coun. Jody Jackson had proposed the town look at loosening restriction on what he described as “in-law suites,” which is when part of a single-family home gets rented out to another family member.
“It would help with potential affordable housing for some,” said Jackson, noting the town’s low vacancy rates. “I’d like to see us, if we’re not looking at it, at least to think about it.”
Coun. Keith MacLean, who chairs planning committee, said the town is already looking into that possibility.
“And I think you’ll see in the new bylaw review, some changes to make that more accessible in the town,” said MacLean, adding that he preferred to use the term “secondary suites.” “Because I don’t think it should be just based on families… they actually give incentives to do secondary suites. A university student or someone could get affordable housing and then it also allows young couples to get the home, get the mortgage approved and then as the family matures they can easily convert these homes back to single units if they want.”
Currently, Stratford has what MacLean described as very strong rules against secondary and in-law suites.
“It’s very difficult to get them,” he said.
MacLean noted he had toured some housing areas of Edmonton during a Federation of Canadian Municipalities event.
Edmonton allows secondary suites in single-detached homes, however duplexes, semi-detached houses, townhouses and apartments do not qualify.
MacLean said while he is not 100 per cent sure how the new bylaws will be written, the committee has only been looking at allowing secondary suites in homes that are owner-occupied.
He said the review has been looked at “very closely” at the planning committee level, although it still must go through the town’s management and then council. The process will also involve a public consultation at some point.
MacLean said he hopes to have the bylaw review completed by September or October.
