Sooke is pushing ahead with proposed zoning regulations to allow manufactured homes in all rural areas of the municipality.
Councillors this week approved a bylaw amendment and instructed staff to hold a public hearing on March 12.
Coun. Rick Kasper called the proposed amendment a move toward allowing more B次元官网网址渁ffordable housing options,B次元官网网址� while Coun. Brenda Parkinson recommended councillors hold off on the changes.
B次元官网网址淲e have to make every effort to remove the stigma associated with the past definition of a mobile home. I think itB次元官网网址檚 important for us to move forward with affordable housing options,B次元官网网址� Kasper said.
Parkinson argued the situation is reminiscent of other legislation where council forged ahead, and was then forced to come back months later to make further fixes.
B次元官网网址淲e do not take the time to look at what weB次元官网网址檙e doing before we go and make these decisions,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like to see us do this correctly the first time.B次元官网网址�
Parkinson suggested postponement pending a more thorough analysis by staff, pointing out she isnB次元官网网址檛 in favour of blanket zoning.
But councillors didnB次元官网网址檛 agree to further delay and decided to move ahead with the introduction of the bylaw.
Coun. Ebony Logins said any manufactured homes which are part of the bylaw must abide by the B.C. Building Code.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no difference between them and the other homes that are in the zones,B次元官网网址� Logins said.
Under the proposed zoning amendment, a manufactured home will be allowed in rural residential zones, as long as its a primary residence.
District staff say they do not support spot zoning as a best practice to deal with zoning issues.
Staff will also meet with a planning consultant to discuss whether it would be appropriate to allow manufactured homes in all residential zones.
The issue came to a head in early December when a Sooke River Road resident applied for a building permit for a property zoned RU2 (rural).
The permit was approved and then rescinded when staff discovered the RU2 zone definition in the zoning bylaw excluded manufactured homes, park model trailers and motor homes.
