Many of you are aware of the proposal being brought forward by Council to legalize suites in Lions Bay.  There are two parts to this proposal as explained by Councillors Akerhielm and Ronsley in their recent communications.

The first part is to amend the current zoning bylaw to include a definition of a secondary suite and removes the current limitation on a single family dwelling.  This amendment will then ensure that persons applying for building permits to construct a new home, or renovate an existing home, and wish to include a secondary suite can do so.  Suites will then be built according to the building code.  This would meet the objective to allow for secondary suites in the Village and ensure they are built to safety standards.  While there is still some fine tunig to do on the wording, it seems that most people are in favor of what is being proposed for new construction.

The second part is the policy on how we administer secondary suites.  This is the more challenging and complex part of the proposal.  People are wondering what the objectives are with the current proposed policy.  There are differing opinions around the charges being propsed and what a fair share for the cost of services is.  The other concern is around homes with existing suites and the legal issues around conformity.    Others are concerned that Council is going overboard on rules and regulations, not creating a policy that is specific to Lions Bay and that Council is going too fast with its decision making.  Are suite owners aware of possible tax implications and benefits from owning a legal suite?

These are all valid concerns.  It has been pointed out that except for Mayor Broughton, the four Councillors who are elected were not put to a vote at the time, so the question is, do they represent the wishes of the community?  Now is an opporutnity for Council to hear from you so that we are making the right decisions for Lions Bay going forward.  There is an important Public Hearing taking place at the Village Hall on Wednesday June 23rd and this is a time for your opinons to be heard.

I would like to dialogue with you on this matter to help me make the right decision.   I understand if you can't make the meeting so invite you to call or e-mail.  My number is 604 921-6564 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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