Public consultation for detached suites will begin in February, after Metchosin staff send out a newsletter outlining regulations proposed by council.

B次元官网网址淭his is a starting point,B次元官网网址� said Mayor John Ranns. B次元官网网址淭he purpose of the public consultation process is to engage the citizens of Metchosin and get them to come out and tell us what they want to see as a referendum question, or if they want a referendum at all.B次元官网网址�

The district is planning a series of town hall meetings, where district residents can voice their opinions and concerns. Council outlined detached suite regulations late last year, such as maximum size, parking requirements and minimum lot size as starting points for discussion.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 funny, the community seems to be evenly divided as to whether they want the detached suites or not,B次元官网网址� Ranns noted.

The meetings wonB次元官网网址檛 be a platform for residents to voice their yes or no vote, but instead council is hoping even those who donB次元官网网址檛 want the suites will contemplate how they would be regulated.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not looking for people to tell us whether they agree with the detached suites or not. WeB次元官网网址檙e asking people to tell us, if the suites did exist, what they would want them to look like and how they would want them regulated,B次元官网网址� Ranns said.

Detached suites have remained a divisive issue in the district for years. A committee struck last year to help council devise policy dissolved in acrimony.

Residents will get a chance to vote on the issue in a referendum, being held concurrently with the municipal election in November. But before a referendum question can be asked, it must be written, and council is relying on residents to give input.

B次元官网网址淭he public needs to understand what theyB次元官网网址檙e getting and council needs to be guided by the public on what they are getting. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the most critical thing. If the vote comes in yes, then that council knows exactly what has to be put into the bylaw,B次元官网网址� Ranns said.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 want to leave it up to interpretation. I want a clear set of instructions from the public as to what they want. The devil is in the details on these sort of things. If it turns out that (the public) just donB次元官网网址檛 want it at all then thatB次元官网网址檚 fine too. At least weB次元官网网址檒l have addressed the issue.B次元官网网址�

To change the way bylaws are enforced in Metchosin, Ranns said they would have to move away from a complaint driven system into a proactive system, which would have steep costs and implications on privacy.

B次元官网网址淲e know there are illegal detached secondary suites in the district, and we enforce every complaint,B次元官网网址� Ranns said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e also had to deal with frivolous complaints, too. WeB次元官网网址檙e asking the community to be reasonable with the complaint process ... the alternative may mean you could have the detached secondary suite police knocking at your door, and no one wants that.B次元官网网址�

Detached suite meeting dates will be posted MetchosinB次元官网网址檚 website district.metchosin.bc.ca. Dates have not been set.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com