Skip to content

Metchosin pens suite referendum question

Metchosin council has penned the non-binding referendum question to appear on ballots this November.

The question will read, “Are you in favour of allowing detached secondary suites where all of the following conditions can be met? A maximum suite size of 70 metres squared, a lot size of 0.8 hectares or larger and the detached suite is located at least 15 m from all property lines and 15 m from the principle dwelling.”

Voters will have the option of selecting a “yes” or “no” option. The issue of detached secondary suites has been a long-standing issue of debate in the district.

“I think the public is tired of this frankly. We need to either decide ‘yes’ or ‘no,’” said Coun. Bob Gramigna.

Council unanimously supported the motion for the question.

“I don’t care how big the suite is, but what is an issue is the footprint of the suite and that it is as small as possible,” said Coun. Moralea Milne. “The impact of the neighbours really needs to be considered.”

Coun. Jo Mitchell agreed with Milne and said she would like to see detached suites with small footprints especially on agricultural land.

Over the past few months, the District has sent out a questionnaire to all Metchosin voters on whether they would like to see the issue go to referendum, and held a series of roundtable discussions.

“You’ve got to settle on something and I can live with this,” said Coun. Larry Tremblay. “If someone told me a year ago that this would ever get to referendum I would have told them that they were crazy.”

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com