Parade of Homes

There is an application process and zoning to consider in addition to the cost of completing the suite and ensuring that it meets code and different forms of servicing. These units can only be built in single-family dwellings, not duplexes or multi-family housing. "It requires conditional use approval, which is in the zoning bylaw," says grady. "If it is an attached suite, inside a single-family dwelling, we can do our review and do the con- ditional use approval administratively, so there is no public hearing. "We make the decision administratively and then we post the property afterwards in case any neighbours have a problem or an issue, and then they can file an appeal." A detached suite requires a public hearing in front of the board of adjustment. "If someone put a suite inside their house, as a neighbour you would probably never know, but if one popped up in the backyard or on the garage, that's a little more noticeable and that's why we've decided to engage with a public hearing process." There are some rules and restrictions that apply to ensure that people are being good neigh- bours, including the requirement that you must have an additional parking space. Also, a secondary suite always remains as part of the original property and cannot be subdivided, and there can only be one secondary suite. They are strictly residential so you can't turn around and run a business out of it. "The idea is that the primary use of the property is for a single-family home and that the second- ary suite is really secondary to it," grady says. There are no limits on the number of occupants, but be- cause secondary suites are restricted in size, they will tend to be self-limiting. An attached suite cannot be larger than 800 square feet or 33% of the total living area, whichever is less. A detached suite cannot be larger than 600 square feet. "We always tell people: Talk to your neigh- bours. Most people do and usually it's OK," says grady. "I think we've only ever had one inside of a house where it was appealed, ever." With the right design, a secondary suite can be an enhancement. "We've seen some where people incorpo- rate the suite into the roof line with dor- mers on a detached garage," says grady. "They've done some pretty nice design work." The province's Secondary Suites Program (www.gov. mb.ca/housing/mh/progs/ssp.html) offers eligible home- owners forgivable loans to offset construction costs. All City of Winnipeg zoning requirements can be found online at www.winnipeg.ca including a brochure titled Secondary Suites: A Planning and Zoning guide. WeLcoMe Additions Cont'd from page 36 52 Parade of Homes FALL 2015 30 River Heights Lots for Sale This Never Happens 30 NEW LOTS IN NORTH RIVER HEIGHTS PRIME LOTS 30 NEW JUST RELEASED HEIGHTS RIVER NOW AVAILABLE IN RIVER HEIGHTS LOTS NOW ON SALE BUILD NEW IN LOTS STARTING AT $180,000 'We've seen some where people incorporate the suite into the roof line with dormers on a detached garage'

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