Parksville residents may soon have more housing options in the downtown core.
Parksville council voted, during its Sept. 8 meeting, to direct staff to prepare a zoning and development amendment bylaw to permit an accessory carriage house on properties with a single family dwelling in the downtown commercial C-3 zone.
A carriage house is a home contained in a building separate from the single-family dwelling, but on the same lot, according to the city. They are currently only permitted on properties in the city’s RS-1 (single family residential) zone.
Mayor Ed Mayne introduced a notice of motion to have staff prepare a bylaw amendment to permit the suites.
“There’s very few houses— single family dwellings, in the downtown core,” said Mayne. “I think it’s important that if we’re looking at creating more affordable housing that we’re able to put those in place in those areas.”
He added two residents spoke to him about their interest in having an accessory suite downtown.
Coun. Doug O’Brien supported the motion and said the suites can make affordable housing available faster than larger developments.
“The development projects right now, I understand, some of them are stalling, through no fault of their own, due to material shortages and labor shortages,” O’Brien said.
