THE CORPORATION OF THE
CITY OF PORT COQUITLAM

:

MAR 3- 1
TO Mr. B.R. Kirk February 23, 1996 R se
City Administrator File No. Development Variance Permits

FROM: Carlos Felip
Director of Planning

RE: Development Variance Permit review

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that the Planning Department be instructed to draft
the necessary Amendment Bylaws for the following purposes:

For single family zones: the minimum yard setback for sundecks be
reduced from the current 7.5 meters to 5 meters; and

Townhouse developments: the front yard for townhouse development be
reduced from 7.5 meters to 5 meters when the property fronts lands zoned
or designated under the Official Community Plan for multi-family uses or

commercial uses.

BACKGROUND:

The Municipal Council has in recent times expressed concern on the
number of Development Variance Permits submitted for approval. A total of 82
permits have been approved since 1987.

On the instructions of Council the Planning Department has reviewed the
Development Variance Permit applications which were successful in receiving
approval from Council over the last three years to identify whether or not
some of these applications were the result of inadequate provisions within the

municipal bylaw.

DISCUSSION:

Of the 82 successful Development Variance Permits, 35 dealt with
relaxations within single family areas. Of these 35, 20 comprised relaxations
of the rear yard setback to accommodate a sundeck or similar structures.

The large number of application to accommodate sundecks indicate that
current minimum lot sizes and rear yard setbacks often prevent the
construction of sundecks, an acceptable feature within a single family area.
It is therefore recommended that the rear yard setback be relaxed for sundecks
only from the current 7.5 meters to 5 meters. The rear yard setback for the
principal structure will remain unchanged.

Of the total approved Development Variance Permits since 1987, 31
affected townhouse and multi~family developments. Most of the variances
affecting townhouses (9 in total) dealt with relaxations of front yards.