A recent open house in Lantzville outlined a variety of land use changes being proposed in Lantzville, including secondary suites. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

community planning

Lantzville zoning bylaw aims to drastically increase secondary suite availability

Oct 22, 2019 | 9:16 AM

LANTZVILLE — How and why land is used in Lantzville, specifically regarding secondary suites and carriage houses, is about to change.

The District of Lantzville is drafting a new zoning bylaw, which is slated for approval later this year after a round of open houses and public engagement. A key pillar of the of the new bylaw is the increasing density of Lantzville subdivisions, led by secondary suites.

Lantzville’s director of planning Kyle Young told NanaimoNewsNOW the plan “will look and feel much different” compared to how land was designated and used in the past.

“It would allow for suites on a very broad basis, subject to council approval. It has the potential to be a fairly big change for Lantzville.”

Young said secondary suites are currently only permitted on roughly 100 rural-zoned lots in Lantzville of at least 2 hectares.

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Up to 1,400 new properties would be eligible for secondary dwellings if the land use bylaw is approved.

Young said he’s heard a mix of concerns and appreciation for the proposed change.

“There are certainly people who are concerned about the impacts of suites that other communities have experienced. The primary concern that comes up with suites is parking.”

The District is proposing sufficient on-site parking requirements for secondary-suited properties in an effort to avoid on-street vehicle cluttering.

Secondary suites would also not be allowed in the new Foothills subdivision in upper Lantzville. Young said an existing comprehensive development plan and covenant is in place for the area.

Another notable proposed change to Lantzville’s Zoning Bylaw is a Future Special Area Plan Zone.

Young said the idea is to encourage a variety of uses and housing types in large swaths of land primarily close to the village core.

Updates to the zoning bylaw are based on the vision from the community’s new Official Community Plan, which was adopted earlier in 2019. It was last updated in 2005 and was based on a 32-year-old Regional District of Nanaimo plan.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @reporterholmes