NEW LANEWAY HOUSING UPDATE - November 2009

-

Laneway Housing Update - MEMO TO COUNCIL (250 kb)

Laneway Housing Public Workshop Presentation (3 mb)

. 

Laneway Housing Approved by Council - July 2009 

-

On July 28, 2009, Council approved laneway housing.  In addition, Council: 

• decided on a one space minimum on-site parking requirement; and

• added a provision to the Laneway Housing Guidelines providing details regarding the relaxation of location provisions for lots longer than 122’.  

To view the approved Laneway Housing Regulations and Guidelines, as well as Illustrative Examples of Laneway Housing, click below:

.

Regulations specific to Laneway Housing (see Section 11.24 on page 7)

Laneway Housing Guidelines

Laneway Housing Illustrative Examples (Revised Sept 2009) (3.8 mb)

Laneway Housing Presentation to GVHBA - Sept 22, 2009 (4.8 mb)

-.

If you are interested in applying to build a laneway house, please call or visit the Enquiry Centre to learn about the approval process and whether your lot is eligible.

.

Enquiry Centre - City Hall, East Wing, 2nd Floor

Phone: 604.873.7613

.

You can also get a detailed list of submission requirements at the Enquiry Centre or by clicking on the following link:

LWH Checklist of Submission Requirements

(4^th from the bottom under “Enquiry Centre”)

- 

Here is a summary of the key features of laneway housing:  

-

•  In RS-1 and RS-5 single family areas
• On lots 33’ wide and wider, with an open lane, on a double fronting street, or on a corner with a lane dedication
• Generally located in the space where a garage would be permitted, i.e. in the rear 26’ of the lot (and a minimum of 16’ separation between the laneway house and the main house)
• Rental or family only / no strata-titling
• Minimum of one on-site parking space
• Unit size based on lot size to a maximum of 750 sq.ft. (approx. a 500 sq.ft. unit on a 33’ X 122’ lot)
• 1 and 1 ½ storey configurations, with guidelines to address upper storey massing, privacy, and shadowing
• Enabling homeowners to add a laneway house while retaining their existing main house; with or without a secondary suite in the main house (a laneway house could also be built with a new house)

BACKGROUND

-

Public Hearing & Special Council Meeting Minutes:

Minutes of the July 21 and 23 Public Hearing (see item #6 on page 7)

Minutes of the July 28 Special Council Meeting (see item #3 on page 5)

.

The agenda and materials for the July 21 Public Hearing are now available online:

July 21 Public Hearing Agenda and Materials (agenda item #6) 

Below is a PDF of the display boards from the information open houses held on June 24, 2009 at the Italian Cultural Centre and June 25, 2009 at the Hellenic Community Centre.

Laneway Housing Information Open House Display Boards (2.5 mb)--

Laneway Housing Report to Council

Council’s approved motion (page 12-14) -

= 

When might Laneway Housing be allowed in your neighbourhood? - March 2009

- 

The City has been working on amending single family zoning to allow laneway housing. This new housing form will be located in the typical garage area where it maintains backyard open space. As per past City Council direction, it will be limited to 1 ½ storeys, have at least one off-street parking space, and be rental or family only (no stratification will be allowed).

- 

Recently, a City Council Motion directed that action relating to new affordable and rental housing, be prioritized. In explaining the motion, Council referenced laneway housing specifically as such an opportunity for prioritized action and fast-tracking. The laneway housing timeline has therefore been adjusted to provide draft zoning amendments for public comment and Council consideration at the July 21st Public Hearing.

- 

Many homeowners have been indicating their wish to apply to build a laneway house as soon as possible. Laneway housing was also identified as having broad public support through the EcoDensity public engagement in 2007-08. Public discussion on specific issues and options then occurred in fall 2008, leading to the list of features that laneway housing zoning will incorporate.

- 

Prior to the July public hearing, staff will again meet with stakeholder groups and provide information to the broad public. If Council approves zoning changes, development applications can start right away.

Laneway Housing in Single Family Areas - October 2008

EcoDensity Priority Action Item Going to Council - October 2008

The Laneway Housing Policy report and accompanying Appendix B (Issues and Options Paper) will be considered by Vancouver City Council’s Standing Committee on Planning and Environment at its meeting on October 30, 2008.

 For contact information, how to register to speak to the Standing Committee, and other details, please see the notification letter:

Laneway Housing Notification Letter

For a copy of the Report and Issues & Options Paper see below:

Laneway Housing Report to City Council (77 kb)

Appendix B (Laneway Housing Issues and Options Paper) (1.3 mb)

-

Public Open Houses - September 2008

Laneway Housing in Single Family Areas: Display Boards (2.5 mb)

The next step will be to write an Issues and Options report, as instructed by Council, for report to Council at the end of October.  The report will be available here and on the City website prior to Council for public viewing.  We will notify people on the the EcoDensity e-mail list when the report becomes available.