City to hold two open houses on future of laneway homes in Burnaby

The city of Burnaby is hosting two sessions on March 28 and 29 where residents can learn more about the future of laneway homes and suites in semi-detached homes (suites in semis).

The city’s Housing Choices Program intends to introduce new housing options to Burnaby to bridge the gap between single-family homes, apartments, and condos.

During the Feb. 27 city council meeting, council was presented with a draft plan report from the Planning and Development Committee, that included 108 recommendations and 10 future considerations for the regulation of laneway homes and suites in semis.

The recommendations focused on several aspects, including zoning and lot eligibility; building size, height and siting; parking; environmental design; outdoor spaces, servicing and utilities; and the application process.

For laneway homes, the recommendations suggest a maximum floor area lesser of 20% of the lot area and 1,506.95 square feet, with a two-storey maximum height.

Setbacks are recommended to be 1.2 metres minimum from the lane and 2.4 metres minimum from the house.

The minimum number of parking stalls recommended is one van-accessible parking pad or carport space (one space for up to three units).

Private outdoor spaces for laneway homes are encouraged with a minimum of 43.06 sq. ft. of space for a private patio or a minimum of 32.29 sq. ft. for a deck or balcony.

Recommendations for suites in semis include four maximum dwellings per unit, per property, (two-semi detached units with one secondary suite per unit).

There is no maximum floor area recommended for the secondary suite, but the outline says “it must be contained within the semi-detached unit.” The minimum recommended floor area is 322.93 sq. ft.

“A secondary suite located in a cellar or in a fully accessible basement may be added to a semi-detached home and will not count as floor area. Floor area of cellar secondary suites and fully accessible basement secondary suites must be no greater than the floor area of the main storey,” notes the report.

Two accessible parking pads or carport spaces (two spots for up to four units) are being suggested.

During the council meeting, there was some discussion regarding the stratification of laneways, specifically.

In Phase 1a of the Housing Choices Program, stratification of laneways is not being considered at this time. However, the city could consider it in future phases.

The staff report notes that “strata laneway homes would be very profitable and attractive from a financial perspective. If permitted, it is expected that there would be interest from homeowners and builders in this option.”

However, the report also highlights that allowing strata laneways could create “significant upward pressure” on the value of single-family lots, unless the city implements certain measures.

The first measure requires an amenity contribution as part of the approval process for the stratified laneway home.

The city notes that the “significant” contribution would vary depending on the size of the unit and property, and acknowledges that many single-family homeowners may not be able to provide this contribution until after the strata laneway is built and sold, and this would create an obstacle to creating new homes.

The second measure would require new laneway homes to be sold at below-market price, and this would vary depending on the size of the home and the location.

This approach would depend on the creation of an affordable homeownership program. Furthermore, the report notes “market price” would be difficult to determine if all strata laneways are to be sold at below-market prices.

During the Feb. 27 council meeting, Coun. Pietro Calendino voiced some support behind laneway stratification.

“There really is no huge value added to the property if it is for rental use only,” he said.

“There may be some financial benefit, only if it is stratified in larger lots, that obviously is up to council to decide in the future,” he stated.

Coun. Alison Gu said she is not in favour of the potential stratification.

“I don’t know that we should go down that route, it’s a slippery route to go down. It means that single family homes’ land values could skyrocket even more. If we’re talking about it now as a potential in the future, we risk speculation. So for me, I don't even want to touch that,” she said.

“Like the mayor has expressed in the past, I really do believe that laneway housing is for keeping families together, keeping multigenerational families together.”

Gu added that there are other forms of missing middle housing that still need to be examined by staff including walkups and row homes.

The city is holding information sessions on Tuesday, March 28 from 5:30 to 7:30pm at Confederation Seniors Centre (4585 Albert St.) and Wednesday, March 29 from 5:30 to 7:30pm at Bonsor Recreation Centre (6550 Bonsor Ave.).

Official bylaw changes for laneway homes and suites in semis are expected to be implemented this fall.