Metres and measurement as Barrie city councillors bandied about what the perfect fit might look like during a discussion Wednesday about a proposed change to the city's zoning bylaw to allow four residences on a single property, up from three.
Coun. Clare Riepma sought an amendment to the motion by permitting a maximum height of 4.5 metres for the additional residential units, rather than 5.5 metres recommended by city staff, the minimum exterior side-yard to three metres from the proposed 1.5 metres, the minimum rear-yard setback to three metres from the 1.2 metres, and the minimum interior side-yard setback to three metres from 1.2 metres.
"Every lot is unique, and the situation is unique, and some will work and some won't," said Riepma. "I think it's really important that especially in our established neighbourhoods we have a really good fit between the new buildings and the existing neighbourhood."
Deputy Mayor Rob Thomson believed councillors were trying to find a balance to achieve everything.
"We understand that we need stock in the housing market of all kinds. But I also don't think members of council want to walk around their neighbourhoods that they are here to represent, the people, and change the whole fabric of the neighbourhood," he said in support of the amendment.
If anyone out there thinks a bump to four units on a single property is going to be the answer to Barrie's housing shortfall, Coun. Jim Harris offered a blunt assessment.
"The accessory dwelling units are not the answer to the housing crisis. Let's be clear," he explained. "We had 63 built in the last five years, 16 were built last year in Barrie."
The lone wolf around the table against increasing the setbacks was Coun. Sergio Morales.
"When you have less of a setback, you are not going to allow people to mingle in that space," he said, using a picture as an example. "You can't put a little pathway, a little charcoal barbecue and you can't put a little coffee sitting area."
Allowing the setbacks to be bigger could impact the privacy of adjoining neighbours, Morales argued.
"You can have a bit of landscaping, a charcoal barbecue, some Muskoka chairs and you're having the commotion, that talk and camaraderie at the fence line of the neighbours."
Final approval will go to city council on March 27.
It will include a clause by Mayor Alex Nuttall that would see one set of zoning height and setback regulations in established parts of Barrie, as per Riepma's motion, and another for the Salem and Hewitt's secondary plan in the south end, as recommended by city staff.
In the report to councillors, city staff acknowledged private rental units are not necessarily created to provide affordable or attainable housing.
"The addition of rental stock to the housing market will facilitate an increase in rental supply to meet demand and assist in the control of rental prices, and permissions for additional residential units provide homeowners with an option to offset mortgage costs through the creation of additional rental units on their properties," the report stated.
Staff also said that proposed amendments to the zoning bylaw would aim to reduce urban sprawl by allowing for more housing to be built on existing parcels of land.
Banner image: Photo displayed by Coun. Sergio Morales during general committee meeting on Wed. Mar 20, 2024.
