Back to SearchCRD eyes flexibility in rules for carriage houses
The Board was briefed on challenges with diversifying housing options through developing “carriage houses” and “secondary dwellings” within existing land use bylaws. “Carriage Houses” are permitted to be developed in any residential or rural zone, regardless of lot size. However, they are required to be built within an existing ancillary structure, like a garage or workshop, are restricted to a single storey, and do not permit many designs being promoted by CRD municipalities. The Board directed staff to prepare bylaw amendments to increase the flexibility in what is classified as a carriage house by:
- Allowing for a stand-alone carriage house instead of requiring them to be attached to another structure like a garage or workshop;
- Increasing the allowable building height to 8.6 meters to align with municipal bylaws;
- Permit carriage houses to be built as two-storey buildings within the maximum allowable height; and
- Restrict carriage houses to a minimum allowable width of 6.1 meters to ensure a desirable building form and not permit the proliferation of single-wide manufactured homes.
Additionally, the Board authorized changes to what can be permitted as a secondary dwelling. Secondary dwellings are permitted only on lots larger than 4 hectares, subject to any restrictions for properties in the Agricultural Land Reserve, and are restricted to a maximum size of 130 square meters. The Board has directed staff to prepare bylaws to make the following changes for secondary dwellings:
- Remove provisions preventing secondary dwellings from being connected to ancillary structures. This will reduce the overall footprint of permitted structures and allow the totality of secondary dwelling floor area to be dedicated to living space.
- Increase permitted total floor area of a secondary dwelling from 130 sq. m (1400 sq. ft.) to 186 sq. m. (2002.1 sq. ft.).
The proposed bylaw amendments will now be developed by CRD staff and brought forward to a future board meeting. They will then be considered by the Board, Electoral Area Advisory Planning Commissions, and (if the bylaws receive a second reading) be referred to a public hearing.
Board debates use of over $9 million in available Community Works Funding
The Board held a lengthy debate about how to utilize $9.9 million in Community Works Funds which were reported as available in a memo from the Chief Financial Officer. Under the agreement for this funding, all Community Works Funds received before January 1, 2025 must be spent by December 31, 2029 or allocated to projects that remain in progress after 2029. The Board has directed staff to return with a list of eligible projects to allocate this funding towards for the April 11, 2025 meeting, along with assessments for how projects should be prioritized. Additionally, a recommendation from CRD staff was endorsed, and a policy will be developed to guide how Community Works Funds will be allocated in the future.
Water and sewer fees approved for 2025
Updated utility service fees for the CRD’s 16 water and sewer systems have been approved. These fees are the primary revenue source to fund operating and maintenance costs for each system. These additional rate increases are intended to improve how the CRD can plan for reinvesting in these systems and generate capital reserve funds for any major projects in the future.
Residential rates for each system are increasing as follows:
- 103 Mile Water: $433 ($42 increase)
- 108 Mile Water: $307 ($12 increase)
- Alexis Creek Water: $548 ($7 increase)
- Alexis Creek Sewer: $183 ($24 increase)
- Benjamin Water: $446 ($70 increase)
- Canim Lake Water: $869 ($83 increase)
- Forest Grove Water: $452 ($83 increase)
- Gateway Water: $529 ($18 increase)
- Horse Lake Water: $357 ($75 increase)
- Lac La Hache Water: $303 ($28 increase)
- Lac La Hache Sewer: $234 ($8 increase)
- Lexington Water: $1,078 ($98 increase)
- Pine Valley Sewer: $679 ($62 increase)
- Red Bluff Sewer: $299 ($10 increase)
- Russet Bluff Water: $561 ($86 increase)
- Wildwood Sewer: $271 ($19 increase)
User fees represent between 50% to 100% of each system’s funding requirements, and are critical to any future maintenance and renewal plans, with the remainder generated by property taxes within each service area. Funds raised for each system can only be used for that system to finance its continued operation, maintenance, and improvements.
Utility bills are expected to be delivered to homeowners starting in April, and are due by May 31, 2025. More information about your utility bill and how to pay it is available on the CRD’s website.
Quesnel Fringe Fire Protection tax hit lessened by Community Works Funds
$500,000 from the Community Works Fund will be allocated towards the Red Bluff Firehall replacement project. This project was approved through a referendum held in 2024, and is being funded by taxpayers in the Quesnel Fringe Fire Protection Area. These funds will reduce the annual taxation impact of the project from $59.96/$100,000 assessed value to $48.35/$100,000 assessed value. A request for proposals recently closed for architectural design services and, once a contract is awarded, construction-ready drawings can be prepared.
Electoral Area “D” Director tasked with surveying residents on dog control services
$5,000 has been allocated to allow the Electoral Area “D” Director to survey their constituents and determine the demand for dog control services in that area. This follows several meetings where the CRD has discussed how to handle issues concerning wandering dogs and aggressive dogs while balancing the costs of any new services. If survey respondents are generally favourable for establishing a dog control service, further investigations would be required, including determining how much funding is required to build an impound facility and run the service. Further information will be provided about the survey and how to be participate in the future.
Upcoming Meetings:
April 10, 2025 @ 1:00 p.m. – Indigenous Relations Committee
April 11, 2025 @ 9:30 a.m. – CCRHD / CRD Board
April 14, 2025 @ 11:00 a.m. – South Cariboo Rural Directors Caucus
April 14, 2025 @ 12:00 p.m. – South Cariboo Joint Committee
See the full CCRHD and CRD agendas and minutes at cariboord.ca/agendasminutes.
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