Town of Smithers residents can have their say on carriage homes on March 11.
At the regular meeting Feb. 11, council passed first and second reading of bylaws to amend a zoning bylaw and alter the Official Community Plan to allow for carriage homes in the R2 Low Density Residential zone.
Carriage homes are classified as detached dwellings constructed as an accessory building to a single-family home. They are normally around 500 square feet with one or two bedrooms and typically accessible from a home’s rear lane. They are required to meet the same building standards as single-family homes.
In Smithers, most R2 properties are located on the older side of town, on the west side of Highway 16 and are serviced by alleys.
The Town of Smithers is considering allowing carriage homes 1.5 stories tall.
Passing the first two readings automatically takes the process to a public hearing. The Public Hearing takes place during the regular Town of Smithers council meeting March 11 at 7:30 p.m.
“We don’t really need to get into a lot of lengthy discussion right now,” Counc. Phil Brienesse said. “The most important thing is to get to the Public Hearing stage and hear what sort of input we get from the public on it.”
At a council meeting earlier this year, it was stressed allowing carriage homes would not add to the affordable housing stock, only bring another type of rental housing to Smithers.
“If we think we’re creating affordable housing, I think we’re somewhat kidding ourselves,” said councillor Charlie Northrup.
“If these 500-square-foot-plus carriage homes are built properly, you’re looking at $100,000-plus, your costs, taxes, maintenance, etc. These homes could easily be going for $1,000/month.”