Director of Engineering and Development Rod Bovay addresses Belleville city council April 10, 2017 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
The province is moving ahead with allowing second units in houses despite municipal concerns.
The province is expected to hand down its decision later this year to allow the second units within single detached, semi-detached and row houses.
A maximum of one parking space would be required.
A Belleville councillor has questioned the wisdom of allowing second units in houses in the city but not “second kitchens.”
At the city council meeting Monday, Councillor Mitch Panciuk questioned Director of Engineering and Development Rod Bovay on the province’s move to allow second units in houses.
Panciuk said he couldn’t see why second kitchens weren’t allowed, such as some homeowners want to have in their basement.
Bovay says a second unit is different in that it has safety restrictions, and there are issues of extra traffic and fire safety.
He says many older areas of the city do not have the infrastructure in place to meet all the demands of second units.
Bovay says council has now approved staff to make changes in the official plan but the city may not have the ability to restrict second units.
#2 C C ROD
The province is expected to have the new regulations in place by this fall.
Expanding Belleville’s transit facility
Plans are moving ahead for the planned expansion of Belleville’s transit facility at 400 Coleman Street.
Last night, city council approved a staff recommendation that Shoalts and Zaback Architects be hired to design the expansion of the building at a cost of $73,450, including HST.
Councillor Kelly McCaw was the only councillor to vote NO in the recorded vote, saying she opposed the fact the city was waiving its purchasing bylaw to approve the contract..
The project was approved in the 2017 capital budget in the amount of $2.3 million, funded through provincial and federal progams.
In his report, Manager of Transit Services Matt Coffey says the extension of two indoor bus lanes at the north end of the facility will help solve operational concerns, provide additional storage, allow all vehicles to be kept indoors, and allow for future expansion of the bus fleet.
