Thursday October 25, 2012 (Vol. 37 No. 86)
V O I C E
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Images of effort: The Launching Pad recovery house in South Surrey maintains a photographic record of every victory over addiction. And every defeat. › see page 11
Big house within rules
Planned taxes on rise
Surrey suites to cost more
Neighbours ‘up in arms’ Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Work to construct a large, $2-million home at the corner of Cliff Avenue and Kent Street in White Rock has neighbours “a little horrified.” But despite concerns, the developer has done everything by the books. “Other than the fact that their timing was poor for their excavation… everything’s above-board,” said city director of planning Paul Stanton, referring to excavation that took place during recent heavy rains, potentially jeopardizing stability of the pit. Stanton said he has received several complaints regarding the development. “Neighbours are up in arms over the size of the house, but staff has an obligation to issue the (building) permit if it meets the requirements. “They pushed the envelope as far as they could push it to build the maximum that they could build.” A four-storey, approximately 14,000-square-foot single-family home is destined for the lot, which is zoned RS-1. The bylaw restricts lot coverage by the principal building to 45 per cent, and height to 7.7 metres. Stanton said the developer kept within the guidelines by designing the house to be built with two levels below-grade. Anything two feet below the lot’s average natural grade is not factored into lotcoverage calculations. “They’ve gone two levels of basement and they’ve excavated right to the property line so they can daylight the basement, which is highly unusual,” he said. “That’s not something we can regulate in the zoning bylaw.” One neighbour told Peace Arch News that comments he’s heard regarding the development have evolved from concern to anger. It will change the character of the neighbourhood, he said. › see page 4
Tracy Holmes photo
Construction site a concern for residents.
Kevin Diakiw Black Press
Going to the wall
Sarah Massah photo
Bayridge Elementary principal Colleen Kuehne followed through on her incentive program for this year’s Terry Fox Run, as Halle Phoenix and other students got to tape their leader to the wall Wednesday after they doubled their goal, raising $800.
Tax bills in Surrey will be going up almost $100 next year, or nearly $250 if the home has a secondary suite, according to City of Surrey financial staff plans. Council won’t be considering the increases until December, but city staff and Coun. Tom Gill – an accountant who chairs the city’s finance committee – are already hammering out the details. Surrey is planning its usual 2.9 per cent increase ($40.20 on the average home worth $615,000), another one per cent road levy ($13.86), along with a $22 increase in the drainage fee, a $5.90 bump in water charges, and a $16.40 jump in sewer fees. Surrey is not considering an increase in garbage fees this year. If the home has a secondary suite, however, the homeowner will be paying another $148 annually, bringing the secondary suite service fee to $395, an increase of 37.5 per cent. That will bring the total tax bill for the average Surrey home to $2,620 – or $2,768 for homes with a suite. In addition to that, homes with secondary suites that are not on water meters will be paying $844 for utilities, such as sewer ($439), water ($264) and garbage pickup ($141). Gill said residents have been clear that they want owners of homes with suites to pay their fair share. “The objective is to fairly and equitably support amenity infrastructure requirements utilized by all of our residents – pools, recreational centres, turf fields; all in the Build Surrey Program – plus › see page 4
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