Vernon is doing more to bolster the housing stock around town with changes to secondary suit and accessory dwelling rules.

Council voted unanimously on a staff recommendation to amend its zoning bylaw to 鈥渟treamline and encourage the development of this form of rental housing in the city.鈥�

City long-range planner Barbara Everdene presented a lengthy report to council Dec. 11. She said the city鈥檚 Housing Action Plan includes a set of actions to support an increase in the supply of housing units that are 鈥渄iverse in type, size and pricing, accessible and inclusive, with enough units that are 鈥榓ffordable鈥� and 鈥榓ttainable鈥� throughout the community.鈥�

鈥淭he amendments commit the city to reduce barriers and incentivize the construction of new secondary suites and secondary dwellings,鈥� said Everdene. 鈥淭his action will promote the low impact densification of existing neighbourhoods and contribute to compact community development.鈥�

Proposed amendments include lessening the restrictions on size, form and siting, and enable the development of more livable space, all while maintaining standards of livability on individual properties and between properties in residential neighbourhoods.

For each single-detached home, one secondary suite and one accessory dwelling would be permitted. The city鈥檚 currently bylaw says no more than one additional dwelling unit (secondary or accessory) is permitted per single-detached housing unit.

Currently, the term 鈥渟econdary suites鈥� includes suites enclosed within single-detached homes and semi-detached homes, as well as within detached secondary buildings. Staff suggests the city align with provincial terminology and now refer to suites within detached secondary buildings as 鈥渁ccessory dwellings.鈥�

Proposed amendments to secondary suites include a maximum size of not more than 90 square metres.

For accessory dwellings, the net floor area must not be more than 100 square metres 鈥� excluding basement and garages 鈥� and changes would allow the dwellings to be larger than the current standard. The building could be up to seven metres in height.

Staff will prepare a bylaw for first and second reading with a proposed schedule for public hearing to present to council at its next regular meeting Jan. 8.