Bradford is looking to increase housing density and create more rental units in town.
Council is scheduled to hold a public meeting in the Zima Room of the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library (425 Holland St. W.), at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, to solicit feedback from residents about a proposed update to the town’s zoning bylaw that would allow more accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
That follows a May 14 public open house to explain the proposal. Council approved preliminary changes back in February, based on a report from senior planner Mana Masoudi, and directed staff to move ahead with public consultation on a new draft.
During the April 2 meeting, council approved further changes, which now include increasing the number of ADUs allowed on residential lots with municipal services to three from one, as well as allowing ADUs in accessory buildings like garden suites.
As a result, the draft bylaw proposes allowing three accessory units, in addition to the main unit, within a single structure for a total of four units (fourplex), or two accessory units in a main structure and one in an accessory building.
Those permissions are also proposed to be expanded to townhouses in addition to fully- and semi-detached houses, where the town already permits ADUs.
The changes would not apply to places of worship, which would remain limited to one ADU.
Proposed requirements include that ADUs in the main structure have a maximum floor area of 49 per cent, that only one parking space be required for each ADU and that no ADUs be permitted on properties serviced by septic systems or in places considered hazardous by any local conservation authorities.
Those ADUs in accessory buildings are set to require an unobstructed 1.2-metre path to allow access for emergency services to the rear of the house or to a detached residential structure in the rear yard.
When it comes to the size of accessory buildings being used as ADUs, staff recommended “common” setbacks to provide for drainage and safety purposes, which include: three metres from the main building, .6 m from one side of the property and 1.2 m from the opposite side, 1.2 m from the rear of the property, and being no more than 5.4 m tall.
The report includes a series of diagrams, which Masoudi explained are based on the town’s geographic information system (GIS), and represent the most frequently appearing lot size in residential zones with a single- or semi-detached house or townhouse located within the town’s urban boundary.
The open house included a survey to which nine residents had responded to the following questions:
- What is your opinion on the proposed 5.4-m maximum height permitted for ADU structures?
- What is your opinion on the proposed minimum side-yard setbacks permitted for ADU structures?
- What is your opinion on the proposed minimum rear-yard setback permitted for ADU structures?
- What is your opinion on the proposed three-metre minimum setback permitted from the entrance of the ADU structure to the rear wall of the main dwelling building?
In each instance, respondents could select too high, too low or appropriate, and the ‘appropriate’ option was selected more than any other in all cases.
In the report, Masoudi explained the changes originally came in response to provincial Bill 23, which passed on Nov. 28, 2022, and made changes to the Planning Act to permit two ADUs in addition to the primary unit in single- and semi-detached houses and townhouses, allowing up to three dwelling units on residential lots with full municipal services.
If approved, the changes could help Bradford meet its target to add 6,500 homes by 2031.
Anyone unable to attend the upcoming meeting can also submit feedback in writing to Mana Masoudi, Senior Planner, Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury, Office of Community Planning, 305 Barrie Street, Unit 2, P.O. Box 419, Bradford, ON, L3Z 2A9, or email [email protected].
For more information visit townofbwg.com/ADUzoning.
