If you’re in the market for coach houses in West Vancouver, there are some considerations you should make before you buy. Some of these are listed below.
laneway houses
The City of Vancouver has a laneway house program. It aims to create 4,000 new laneway homes by 2028. Laneway houses are a type of housing that allows homeowners to build a small house next to their existing property, in an effort to increase the value of the house.
They also allow homeowners to generate additional income from renters. This is useful for people who are downsizing. In addition, laneway houses help to minimize site changes and greenhouse gas emissions.
Laneway houses are usually single-family dwellings that open onto a laneway. These types of homes are commonly found in densely populated areas of Canadian cities. Since they are located at the rear of a property, they offer privacy. However, they can be difficult to design, as they have a limited amount of space.
While the concept of laneway houses is not new, it has been increasing in popularity. As of May 2013, almost one hundred laneway houses have been approved. One of the first laneway houses in Vancouver was constructed in 2009 by a company called Lanefab Design.
These houses can be a great way to add space and independence to your family. However, you must follow strict zoning bylaws to ensure that your laneway house is built correctly. For example, laneway houses must be at least 4.9 metres (sixteen feet) from the main house. They also have to provide a walkway to the street, as well as a fire lane access.
If you’re planning on building a laneway house, it’s best to get the necessary permits and approvals early. Once you have received all the necessary approvals, you can begin designing and building the home. A laneway house designer can handle the application process for you.
To avoid any hiccups, you’ll need to be prepared to provide detailed information about your plans. Specifically, you’ll need to describe the size of your lot, the location of your laneway house, and the material used to construct the building. You’ll also have to explain any other building plans and discuss your plans with your neighbors.
Getting a laneway house built can be a lot more challenging than building a regular house. It’s important to understand the entire building approval process in the City of Vancouver.
Subdivided lots
The Neighbourhood Character Working Group is asking for feedback on its proposed zoning bylaw changes to the Coach Houses West Vancouver area. They want to make the process easier for homeowners who wish to add extra living space to their homes.
These proposed alterations will allow residents to subdivide their lots and build smaller houses on them. The bylaw will also reduce the maximum size of houses in the neighbourhood. It will also promote green landscaping.
Currently, the bylaws for West Vancouver require that all new homes meet a minimum lot size of 12,000 square feet. This will be reduced to 10,500 square feet.
As well, the bylaws will limit the maximum floor area of new homes to a maximum of 6,300 square feet. There are some other alterations, such as a reduction in the floor aspect ratio. This encourages green landscaping and renovations of older homes.
In addition, the proposed bylaws will change the rules governing laneway houses and secondary suites. If a home is built on a laneway, the lane access must be 10m wide. Similarly, if a house is built on a lot, the lot width must be 10m.
Other amendments are intended to promote diversity and sustainability in the neighbourhood. For example, the new bylaw will eliminate Community Amenity Contributions payments for single-lot subdivisions in the established single-family-detached zones.
Another bylaw is designed to encourage secondary suites. Secondary suites are legal suites in the basement of a primary residence. A bonus of 0.05 FAR will be granted for these suites up to 500 sq. ft.
However, some residents object to these alterations. They are concerned about the impact of the changes on their community. Others argue that city conditions are too restrictive.
Whether the proposed changes will be acceptable to the community depends on how the district planners develop a comprehensive plan for the entire city. Some residents worry about losing the exclusive character of their neighbourhood.
But most of the residents who spoke at the public hearing were supportive of the changes. Residents who wish to comment on the recommendations can do so online.
High-end custom homes
If you’re looking for a home with some high-end oomph, West Vancouver may be just the place to check out. While it’s not the first place you’d think to look, there are a few properties on the market to choose from. Luckily, there are a few solid builders out there, who can help you build the home of your dreams.
The best custom homes in the area can be found in West Vancouver’s most upscale neighborhoods. There’s also a fair number of luxury condominiums and townhomes. A few quality builders are Alair Homes, Paramax Homes, and J. Bannister Homes, all of which have proven themselves over the years. These companies can handle large scale renovations or new home builds from the ground up.
Despite the downturn, there are still some nice properties on the market. The MLS has recently reported that 43 detached homes sold for over $7 million in the Metro Vancouver region during the May to May quarter. It’s an excellent time to get in on the action. Of course, there are plenty of reasons to wait, if only for the opportunity to snag one of these dream properties.
The most expensive home for sale in West Vancouver has a price tag of $16,816,189. This doesn’t include the cost of building the place, but that is a separate matter. For the average Joe, this is a lot of money to shell out. That said, if you have the budget, it’s a great time to get in on the action. The area is still fairly quiet, as far as real estate goes, so you should be able to find a few of these mansions for a good price. Just be sure to take the time to do some research before you buy. Buying a custom home is a major investment, and you want to ensure that you’re getting the best deal possible.
The most important thing to keep in mind when searching for your next dream home is to do your homework. There are numerous reputable companies to choose from, but be sure to do your due diligence and be wary of the red flags.
Bylaw changes coming in January
Coach houses are detached buildings outside the footprint of the home. They allow property owners to create rental housing on their properties.
Coach houses are often referred to as laneway houses, but these types of buildings are not actually included in the current bylaw. The new bylaws will provide density bonuses for coach house construction.
One change is that the maximum floor area will be reduced to 4,500 square feet. This will align with the BC Building Code.
Also, the roof height will be changed. In addition, the Rock-breaking Permit will limit the amount of rock that can be removed to 45 m3 (59 yd3). If the quantity of rock exceeds the limits, an additional fee will be charged.
The changes to the bylaws come after many months of community consultation and community outreach. A working group met 75 times and completed a survey of more than 5,250 residents.
Although the changes seem to be a positive move, some residents have expressed concerns about the process. For example, Craig Cameron has said the bylaws did not go far enough to encourage densification. He questioned whether it is fair to limit the size of lots.
West Vancouver Council has approved amendments to the Zoning Bylaw and the OCP. This will make the process for building and licensing coach houses and secondary suites easier.
The changes include a requirement to consult with neighbours on the development proposal. There will also be a penalty for failing to licence the coach house or suite.
The new bylaw also allows three units on a single residential lot. Existing homes must also meet the requirements of the current bylaw.
New coach houses will be permitted in exclusive communities. These communities are expected to adopt the new rules in the fall.
Coach homes are expensive to build. They require the same amenities as main houses. However, they only take up about 40% of the footprint of an existing home. The new rule will allow coach houses in exclusive communities as long as they follow the guidelines.
West Vancouver’s new bylaw will take effect in January 2022. During the public hearing, most residents supported the change.
Among many other things, David A. Grantham is a contributing author to UmassExtension West Vancouver Blo. He is a renowned expert on real estate in BC.
Born in North Vancouver, Louisiana, Dr. Grantham grew up in Lower Lonsdale. He then went on to complete his business degree at the University British Columbia. As of this writing, Grantham has completed over 100 projects, including the development of a high rise building in Vancouver.
He is a husband, father, son, brother, and friend. He was a dedicated outdoorsman and enjoyed sports such as hunting, fishing, scuba diving, and snow skiing. His wife, Alison Grantham, and their two daughters survived him. He is survived by his wife Alison Martin Grantham and two daughters.