From: "steve hartwell" <steve.hartwell@canrem.com>
Newsgroups: ont.general
Subject: house apartments 3
Date: 23 Jul 92 22:22:33 EST
Reply-To: "steve hartwell" <steve.hartwell@canrem.com>
Distribution: ont
Organization: Canada Remote Systems


     Other issues that need to be dealt with

     Powers of entry

     Often when the issue of apartments in houses is raised,
     there is a concern about standards.  No one, especially the
     Ontario government, wants inadequate or unsafe conditions in
     housing.

     Municipalities have long identified better powers of entry
     as an important tool in enforcing health and safety
     standards for apartments in houses.  If action is taken to
     amend the Planning Act to allow more apartments in houses,
     this would be a good opportunity to deal with this area as
     well.

     Single housekeeping units

     The Planning Act currently prohibits municipalities from
     distinguishing between related and unrelated persons in
     municipal zoning by-laws.

     However, municipalities have attempted to regulate groups of
     unrelated persons by classifying their homes as "rooming
     houses", even in cases where those individuals live together
     as one household.

     Amending the Planning Act to require that groups of
     unrelated people who form a "single housekeeping unit" be
     treated like any other household for zoning purposes would
     help overcome this problem.

     Garden suites

     Another concern of municipalities and people in the
     community has been the laws that govern "garden suites".
     Garden suites are separate, self-contained units that are
     typically located in the side or rear yards of an existing
     house.  They usually house an elderly or disabled person who
     wants an independent living area but also needs the support
     of family or friends living in the main house.

     Pioneered in Australia, where they are called "granny
     flats", garden suites are a way to accommodate people with
     special needs.  The Province sponsored a five-year
     demonstration project under which a total of twelve garden
     suites were installed in three Ontario municipalities.  An
     evaluation of the project found that such units were
     technically feasible, and that there was a high level of
     satisfaction among participating families.  Many others have
     expressed interest in the garden suite option, and have
     asked the Ontario government to change the laws to help
     municipalities that want to permit garden suites.

     Many municipalities have indicated that they are willing to
     help people who want to have garden suites in their yards.
     Most interested municipalities prefer that the necessary
     approvals be given on a case by case basis.  As well,
     municipalities have requested that they be given the
     authority to enter into agreements with people who want
     garden suites and those who will live in them.  There have
     also been requests for an extension to the three-year limit
     applicable to the temporary use by-laws for garden suites
     because this limit leads to uncertainty for people
     installing units and discourages the provision of this type
     of housing.


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