Photo by Curtis Galbraith.

By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

City council approves regulations for backyard suites

Nov 19, 2024 | 6:00 AM

After much discussion held over two meetings, city council in Grande Prairie has approved bylaw changes for backyard suites, also known as garden suites.

These include setting the maximum height at 7.6 metres to the peak of the roof or the height of the main house, whichever is lower. The maximum height for one above a garage is also 7.6 metres. Backyard suites would also be limited in size to the smaller of 80 per cent of the gross floor area of the main house or 75 square metres.

Councillor Mike O’Connor was one of two people on council to vote against approval.

“I expressed my opinions, but it’s not about me. We have the ability to debate the issue, and nobody listened to all my points, but that’s not what the issue is about.”

” It’s the issue about doing something that is with all of council and when we make a vote, that’s the position that we take.”

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

O’Connor had said during the meetings he was concerned over these suites being allowed where there is no back lane.

The other no vote came from Councillor Chris Thiessen.

O’Connor adds says the city needs to “increase our available housing.”

“This is the thing that we need to do for our community. We need to have more places for more people to work so we can attract more businesses so they can move here and have a place to live. It’s very simple.”

Councillor Dylan Bressey says the city wants what he calls “the max amount of options for people.”

“Especially people who are looking to buy property to develop what will work for them and their family, (and) to have rental properties that aren’t just large apartments and condominiums that only a corporation can own, but also rental options that can have an owner/occupied components or can have multiple generations from one family all under one roof.”

“That’s a win to me.”

Bressey says he likes the idea of grandparents living in the smaller home and the rest of the family in the bigger one.

“Sometimes you want to live with the grandparents on (the) property, but you don’t want to necessarily have them under your roof, or your standing house doesn’t work to have them under your roof. This is another option to get grandparents on the property.”

“It’s also an option for residents who want to age in place. They need to down scale, but they don’t want to leave the beautiful yard they’ve worked on for decades.”

Bressey says he wants to see residents have options for things they can do with their properties, so long as it doesn’t adversely impact the neighbours.

He adds he does not expect a huge impact from this new bylaw as there are only a few suites that were built above garages previously. He expects there will be a few new ones, not a whole bunch.