Rooming Houses Updates & Options - July 10, 2013
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July 10, 2013
Rooming Houses
Updates & Options2 Agenda • Welcome & Introductory Comments – Jason Carlston, Deputy City Manager, Community Planning & Development • Ground Rules – Vanda Conway • Regulatory Options Presentation – Yves Richard, Manager Neighbourhood Planning and Fred Searle, Manager Current Planning • Q&A Period - All • Next Steps – Jason Carlston
3 Purpose and Desired Outcomes Share some of our best practice research from other jurisdictions Most importantly, collect your feedback on various options so we can create responsive policy
4
Ground Rules
Stick to the agenda
Mutual respect:
• One speaker at a time
• All views are important - listen to understand
• Make sure that all comments are respectful
• Share the floor
Turn off your mobile devices (or put them on vibrate)
Other?5 Issues overview Background: • Regina experiencing low vacancy • Rooming/lodging houses addresses particular segment of housing market • Common issue in fast growing communities • Main issues: on-street parking, noise, waste, dwelling alterations, and tenants behavior
6
Rooming House in other cities
Saskatoon Edmonton Calgary London Ottawa
Zoning Approval
Permitted ≤ 5 renters ≤ 3 renters None1 ≤ 3 renters2 ≤ 3 units
City Council approval 6 to 15 renters 4 to 6 renters None 4 or more renters 4 to 7 units
(Discretionary Use) in Low density zones in Low density zones in Medium to in Low
High density density zones
zones
Administration ≥ 6 renters ≥ 4 renters None
approval in Medium to High in High density zones
(Permitted Use) density zones
Parking
Main Dwelling Unit 0 0 2 2 1
Per unit 1 plus 0.53 0.54 0.33 0.25 (inner)
0.5 (outer)
Licensing No Yes No ≥5 Yes
Owner/occupied No No No No No5
[1] The City of Calgary does not define Rooming House
[2] The City of London defines Dwelling Unit as containing no more than five bedrooms
[3] Per Rooming Unit or Bed
[4] Per bed
[5] Not considered a Rooming House if the owner resides on the premise7
Service Request (SRs) Overview
‘Illegal Suites’ SRs by year Other SRs at ‘Illegal Suites’ Addresses 2011-2013
Untidy / Litter
8
8
2010 / weeds /
26 Junked
vehicles
2011 56
Parking
18
65 2012 54 Other
2013
Total Number Individual Addresses with ‘Illegal Suites’ Complaints: 65
Total Number of Service Requests 2010-2013: 235
Total Number of Requests to Service Regina 2011-2013: 16,6688
Issues overview
Today
• Current Zoning Bylaw definition of Rooming Houses:
“a building that is the primary residence of the
owner and in which rooming units are provided by the
owner, for permanent occupancy and compensation, to
persons not related by blood, marriage, or adoption to
the owner”9 Regulatory Options for Rooming Houses
10 Land Use Options Option 1: • Eliminate the land use “Rooming House” from the Zoning Bylaw and continue to enforce life safety issues Pros: • No increased spending required • Reduce enforcement complexities • Life Safety issues continue to be enforced by Bylaw Enforcement • No tenant displacement (only for life safety) Cons: • No control over numbers of boarders • May create incompatible situations Resource Implications: • No impact on resources (staff).
11
Land Use Options
Option 2:
•Limit the number of boarders permitted in detached dwellings
Boarder Definition:
A person who rents a room for sleeping and living accommodation within a
detached dwelling, with or without the provision of meals, who is not a member of
the household occupying the detached dwelling and who is not the owner of the
detached dwelling
Boarding House Definition:
A detached dwelling in which the owner provides accommodation to Boarders,
exclusive of the owner and the owners household, and where no cooking facilities
are present in any individual accommodation rooms
• Up to 4 Boarders with or without the occupancy of the owners
household
• 5 to 8 Boarders subject to public notice and City Council approval
• 0.5 stalls per Boarder, plus one for detached dwelling with no more
than one stall provided in tandem.12 Land Use Options Option 2: Pros and Cons • Limit the number of boarders permitted in detached dwellings Pros: • New clear definition establishing maximum number of Boarders • Easier to understand and enforce than current definition • Larger boarding homes subject to community review and input • Parking standard applied • Quick implementation period Cons: • Reactive enforcement • Enforcement challenges • Public education process • Tenant displacement Resource Implications: • Additional staffing resources required
13
Land Use Options
Option 3:
•Establish Boarding House sizes dependent on densities allowed in
zoning districts
•Boarding Houses require an annual license and inspections
Boarding House:
Boarding House as defined in Option 2 and accommodated in detached
dwellings in any zoning district and no discretionary use provision
Boarding Apartment Definition:
A building in which the owner supplies accommodation for more than four
boarders, exclusive of the owner and the owners household, with or without
provision of meals, and where no cooking facilities are present in any
individual accommodation rooms
• Accommodated in medium to high density and some commercial
zoning districts
• 0.5 parking stalls per Boarder, plus one for detached dwelling.
• Work unit created to enforce and administer licensing of Boarding
Houses/Apartments with annual inspections14 Land Use Options & Resource Impacts Option 3: Pros and Cons • Establish a Boarding House sizes dependent of densities allowed in zoning districts • Boarding houses require an annual license and inspections Pros: • Proactive enforcement • New definitions – easy to understand • Boarding accommodation inventory created • Better quality accommodations for Boarders • Tool to ensure compliance with codes Cons: • Resource intensive – annual renewals, inspections and permits • Policing – Identifying boarding houses without a license • Increased costs passed on to Boarders • Long implementation period Resource Implications: • Resource Intensive = new Work team for annual license, monitoring, and inspection
15
Public Engagement & Next Steps
Apr. 18 Apr. 29 May 9 June 11 July 10 July 29 Fall 2013 2013-14
CHS - Open House meetings
CHS - Council approval
1St Meeting in Whitmore Park & Hillsdale
Follow up meeting with a group of residents
Public Engagement (2nd Meeting)
Council
Administration Report with Recommedations
Council
Zoning Bylaw amendment
Implementation16
Questions & Comments ?
On line questionnaire
http://www.regina.caYou can also read
