New regulations allow longer amendments for garden suites

While councillors here had no objection to a proposed garden suite, it did bring to light new regulations which allow for longer times before the rezoning needs to be renewed.

Councillors had reviewed an application to rezone the property at 6063 Second Line East, in the former Township of Pilkington from “A” Agricultural to Agricultural Exception.

The change would allow the ‘temporary use’ of a garden suite for a period of up to twenty years.

The garden suite is to provide housing for a relative of the property owner.

Centre Wellington managing director of planning and development Brett Salmon explained this still remains a temporary use bylaw.

He noted that a few years ago the Planning Act was changed to allow temporary use  bylaws for garden suites could be in effect for up to 20 years.

“It used to be 10 and now it is 20 as a way to encourage and allow more of these and to recognize that very often garden suites do need to be in place for more than 10 years.”