Markham Secondary Suites by-law citywide application under review

NRU
July 20, 2016
Geordie Gordon

Almost seven years since it was last studied, Markham is once again considering a by-law that would permit secondary suites on a citywide basis. The city’s consultant has recommended that Markham amend its zoning by-laws to permit secondary suites in detached, semi-detached and row houses throughout the city, but not all councillors are supportive of the recommendations.

Generally, secondary suites are not permitted in Markham, except for those in existence prior to November 1995and those permitted in some parts of the Markham Town Centre, Cornell and Cathedraltown as set out in the zoning by-laws for those areas.

In March, Markham retained Gladki Planning Associates to review its zoning by-law for secondary suites. In a report to development services committee July 19, Gladki Planning Associates noted that there is demand for secondary suites in Markham, and that legalizing them would provide a source of affordable rental housing. The report addresses a number of issues that had been identified through the review, including safety, impact on services, parking and neighbourhood character.

Ward 3 councillor Don Hamilton told NRU that he is not supportive of secondary suites because of the parking issues they cause. Hamilton said the city already has parking issues, with residents expanding their driveways to park their cars in their front yards.

“I think [secondary suites] would only exacerbate the situation,” he said.

Hamilton also expressed concerns about a family living in a 35 m2 space—the minimum requirement for a secondary suite according to the preliminary recommendations—as well as the impact that the secondary suites could have on services, such as the added costs it could entail for garbage and recycling pickup.

“Generally speaking, I understand there’s a need, but at the same time, I think it’s going to cause a lot of issues [for] services, for example garbage pickup,” he said.

Gladki’s report highlights safety as the most important issue to address with respect to permitting secondary suites in Markham, as owners of current, illegal suites cannot apply for building permits to ensure that all building and fire code issues are addressed. The report notes that the household size in Markham is decreasing—from 3.5 to 3.4 people per household between 1991 and 2006—and that decline is expected to continue. Gladki suggests that the legalization of secondary suites could help offset the decline and support the full and efficient use of existing infrastructure and community services.

He notes that permitting secondary suites represents good planning, and enables Markham to comply with 2012 changes to the Planning Act. Other benefits include addressing demographic changes within a neighbourhood without altering its physical appearance, contributing to the stock of affordable housing without need for a subsidy, helping homeowners with the cost of home ownership, and allowing residents, such as seniors, to downsize and remain in their neighbourhood.

According to the Planning Act, official plans and zoning by-laws are required to contain policies permitting secondary suites. While Markham’s official plan contains secondary suite policies, the city has not passed a zoning by-law to implement those policies citywide. In 2009, council deferred indefinitely a by-law to approve secondary suites. Instead, council permits secondary suites on a site-by-site basis through the committee of adjustment process. Between June 2015 and 2016, the committee approved 12 secondary suites.

July 19 development services committee directed staff to hold an open house to consider the preliminary recommendations for implementing secondary suites in Markham. A draft zoning by-law is expected to be considered by council before the end of the year.