Surrey council gave final approval Monday to permitting secondary suites in townhouse zones within transit-oriented areas and frequent bus stop areas.
Nobody spoke at the May 12 public hearing nor did city hall receive any correspondence.
"I think this is a great opportunity, and even for multi-generational families to have that opportunity to live with their family members, that's great," Mayor Brenda Locke said.
Council supported a related corporate report on Monday, April 28 which proposed bylaw zoning amendments.
Ron Gill, Surrey's general manager of planning and development, explained in the report that secondary suites "play an important role in meeting the rental housing demand and provide a key form of affordable housing." Secondary suites – there are roughly 30,700 in Surrey – are currently allowed in single-family dwellings, duplexes, and semi-detached residential buildings.
Secondary suites in multi-unit residential buildings, Gill noted, are often referred to as "lock-off" suites and have been approved as a pilot project in a high-rise
development in the city centre. However, they are not currently permitted in "ground-oriented" multi-family zones that are intended for townhouses.
City staff recommended that Surrey's lock-off suites be at least 323 square feet, like micro units.
