Times-Chronicle Staff
Oliver town council has a decision to make on a development variance permit application involving a carriage home on Park Drive.
The application for 6540 Park Drive is to increase the floor area from 90 square metres to 175 square metres. Town staff are recommending that council deny the permit.
In his report to council, Director of Development Services Randy Houle indicates the completion of a two-storey carriage home behind a single-family dwelling currently under construction.
During construction of the carriage home, the applicant was advised that the bottom floor must not be used as living space and must not form part of the upstairs area.
Houle said occupancy was granted in January 2020, but the town received a complaint which it investigated; it revealed that the “bottom floor was converted to bedrooms and living space without approval.”
Staff proceeded with enforcement, at which time the applicant indicated they wanted to apply for a variance permit to increase the size of the home because the basement is being used during COVID 19 to provide more separation amongst family members.
In a letter to council, a spokesperson for the family explained that the mother of the house is a front-line worker for Interior Health.
Due to the mother’s potential exposure to COVID-19, the plan was to make a room and bathroom for her downstairs, along with a separate entry.
“We thought it would be better and safer to make a separate area for her within our house,” the spokesperson said.
She noted it’s essential for the family to sustain a barrier against any potential diseases that the mother may encounter at work.
But Houle said council must be mindful if approval of the variance would cause a negative impact on the neighbourhood.
Houle acknowledged that approval of the variance will not change the physical appearance of the building or visual impact on the neighbours. However, it will set a precedence for larger carriage homes in the future, he said.
“Staff feel that 90 square metres (968 square feet) is ample space for an additional residence on the property, especially given the fact that the primary single detached dwelling under construction will be over 5,000 square feet in size.”
Houle said staff will continue to enforce the bylaw if council denies the permit at its meeting today. He added that a new building permit will be required to either legalize or remove the unauthorized construction.
