Text of a from CVN letter to City Council follows, in relation to Motions B.1 and B.3 to Regular City Council for Tuesday, 12-Dec-2017. Meeting info here: http://council.vancouver.ca/20171212/regu20171212ag.htm
PDF: CVN Letter to Council -Motion B.1.B.3-NC.Dec.11.2017
December 8, 2017
City of Vancouver Council
Dear Mayor Gregor Robertson and Councillors,
Re: Motion B.1 Preserving Livable/Useable Space in One and Two Family Houses
Motion B.3 – Reporting Data on Secondary Suites
The above two motions, B.1 and B.3, are scheduled to be introduced at the Council meeting on Tuesday, December 12. The Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods supports both of these motions. We believe they are beneficial proposals which will add useful data to our knowledge base (Motion B.3), and help builders and homeowners work to increase accessibility in current and future housing (Motion B.1).
Sincerely,
Larry Benge, Co-Chair
Dorothy Barkley, Co-Chair
For reference, the THEREFORE sections of both motions are copied below. Please see the meeting link above for the full text of the motions.
Motion B.1, proposed by Clr Raymond Louie
Preserving Livable/Useable Space in One and Two Family Houses
Therefore be it resolved…
A. THAT Council direct staff to bring forward recommendations to adjust
the Zoning By-law to maintain previously available usable space in small
one and two family houses prior to the 2008 adopted Zoning By-law and
future contemplated insulation and rain screen requirements during the
regulatory review planned for 2018.
B. THAT Council direct staff to explore opportunities to provide flexibility
in meeting accessibility needs in order to maintain the amount of usable
space prior to the introduction of the accessibility provisions in the 2014
Building By-law for small one and two family houses as part of the
planned regulatory review in 2018;
FURTHER THAT the review be done in consultation with the Persons With
Disabilities Advisory Committee, the Seniors’ Advisory Committee and
other community stakeholders.
Motion B.3, proposed by Clr Adriane Carr
Motion B.3 – Reporting Data on Secondary Suites
Therefore be it resolved…
A. THAT City Council direct staff to report back in spring of 2018 on the number of
secondary suites that have been closed by City building inspectors in 2017.
B. THAT City Council direct staff to include in Housing and Homelessness annual
reports, the number of secondary suites that have been closed that year, the
number of secondary suites that have been legalized and the number of legal
secondary suites that are in long-term rental.
