107th Year - Week 6
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
www.interior-news.com
Single Copy • $1.30 ($1.24 + 6¢ GST)
PM 40007014
Money raised to date:
$235,120 GOAL
$400,000
PHOTO OF THE WEEK Hazelton residents to submit their best photos each week.
THREE RIVERS/C12
RICK’S RUN More than 30 people took part in the Torchlight Relay on Hudson Bay Mountain Saturday night, raising about $320for the Canadian Cancer Society.The relay is in memory of longtime Hudson Bay Mountain team member Rick Schmidt. For more Winter Carnival events, see page A13. Ryan Jensen photo
SHAMROCK CUP Young skiers and boarders race in the second leg.
Council considers carriage homes By Ryan Jensen Smithers/Interior News
SPORTS/B5
INSIDE LETTERS COMMUNITY OUR TOWN SPORTS THREE RIVERS CLASSIFIEDS
A7 A11 A15 B1 C1 C4
The Town of Smithers is considering adding carriage homes to its housing landscape. At the regular Jan. 28 meeting, councillors agreed to investigate furthering the concept of allowing the small, detached units in Smithers, in the R-2 Low Density Residential zone. “I think overall, this is an idea there is a lot of appetite out there for,” said Mayor Taylor
Bachrach, who was attending the meeting from Vancouver via Skype. Carriage homes are classified as detached dwellings constructed as an accessory building to a singlefamily home. They are normally around 500 square feet with one or two bedrooms and typically accessible from a home’s rear lane. They are required to meet the same building standards as single-family homes. “Allowing carriage houses in Smithers provides
another option for homeowners to develop rental housing while at the same time supporting low-impact densification,” said Town of Smithers planner Alison Watson in her report to council. In Smithers, most R-2 properties are located on the older side of town, on the west side of Highway 16 and are serviced by alleys. Deputy Mayor Frank Wray, who was chairing the meeting, said he has been hearing lots of positive feedback on the idea
Friday Only! see page A-20
Daybreak Large Carton Eggs Regular White Only! 12’s
but there seems to be some confusion surrounding the concept. “There’s a bit of a misunderstanding — council isn’t building housing,” Wray said following the meeting. “We’re just looking at allowing another different type of housing. It’s another way to increase the rental stock. This is just one piece of the puzzle for housing in Smithers.” Town staff were directed to put together a bylaw and Official Community
Plan amendments to bring forward around carriage homes to the next regular council meeting, Feb. 11. Public hearings are a legislated part of any zoning and OCP amendment process, and take place following the first and second reading of a bylaw. At the meeting, councillors raised concerns about parking, privacy and security, upkeep of alleyways and the location of sewer services. While laneway homes may increase the
rental pool in Smithers, councillors cautioned that this was not going to be a solution to the affordable housing crunch. “If we think we’re creating affordable housing, I think we’re somewhat kidding ourselves,” said councillor Charlie Northrup. “If these 500-square-foot-plus carriage homes are built properly, you’re looking at $100,000plus, your costs, taxes, maintenance, etc. These homes could easily be going for $1,000/ month.”
1
$ 99 Limit 2 / family purchase