Kimberley City Council and the City’s Planning Department are considering the possibility of reviewing height restrictions for construction of new and renovated buildings after a development variance permit (DVP) was submitted for a height variance at a recent Council meeting.
Manager of Planning Services Troy Pollock says that his department wants to review the bylaw for height restrictions, considering the fact that it’s a fairly common variance.
An applicant at 2360 DeWolfe Avenue has applied for a DVP, in hopes of building a detached garage (studio loft) that is just under four feet taller than the current allowable height in the Two-Family Residential Zone (R-2).
Under the current zoning bylaws, a carriage home is allowed at the requested height, however an accessory such as a garage or studio loft, such as this one, is not.
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Pollock explained in a report to Council that over the past ten years, 27 variances have been requested to the height of an accessory structure landing from an additional two to six feet. 80 per cent of those variances have been successful, he says.
“Reasoning behind the variances range from additional headroom for vehicles of lifts to additional storage or work areas, while still providing adequate slop for snow and water run-off,” wrote Pollock.
He adds that the Planning Department intends to evaluate the current 4.5 metre height limit in a future zoning review and has elected the allowable accessory height to between 5.5 to 6 metres in the creation of new residential or mixed zones.
“Surrounding jurisdictions (Cranbrook/RDEK) have a similar 4.5m accessory height limit but define height as the distance to the mid-point of the roof rather than its peak,” Pollock explained.
Notice will be sent to neighbours about the requested height variance for the studio loft, and will return for Council’s vote at a subsequent meeting.
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corey.bullock@kimberleybulletin.com
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