Photo by Whitehorse Star
Council will vote on caretaker suites issue
The city is considering expanding the number of caretaker suites for a new commercial-industrial development at 107 Titanium Way in the Marwell subdivision.
The city is considering expanding the number of caretaker suites for a new commercial-industrial development at 107 Titanium Way in the Marwell subdivision.
Under the current zoning regulations, the city allows only one caretaker suite per lot.
The city has received an applicatioan to allow three more on the same lot with the development of a second commercial building on the same lot, says the administrative report presented to council last Monday.
City administration is recommending that city council bring forward a bylaw to amend the zoning to allow for the additional suites. Council is scheduled to vote on that recommendation this evening.
The existing building is a multi-unit building on a double lot with offices, light industrial shops and one caretaker suite, otherwise referred to as live/work units.
The proposed development would replicate the existing building, says the report.
The report notes the Official Community Plan allows the city to consider live/work arrangements in newer developments.
Live/work units are only suitable where the caretaker suite is occupied by an employee or owner of the business, says the report.
“The units would be designed as live/work units and allow business owners, young entrepreneurs and workers to save time and costs associated with housing and commuting to work, allow flexibility in working hours, make it easier to attract workers from outside the city and increase opportunities for co-working and collaboration between businesses in close proximity,” says the report.
The report notes it is important that residents in live/work units understand they’ll be living in an industrial setting where there are no parks or recreational amenities.
The size of the suites would be limited to 1,076 square feet (100 square metres).
Suites will have to be connected internally to the primary business through a staircase, hallway or door.
The suites cannot be subdivided into separate units for sale, says the report.
The report points out the Marwell Plan developed in 2018 supports live/work options.
It recommends allowing up to two caretaker suites for commercial/industrial lots on Titanium Way as a means of supporting new and emerging businesses.
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Comments (9)
Up 4 Down 0
Denis on Jul 30, 2021 at 3:29 pm
Oh Yea. The next thing will be school buses, then City buses, then more bylaw and police. Where will Neighbourhood Watch and our current populated neighbourhoods with many eyes needed to prevent crime end up? Household garbage must not be mixed with industrial garbage. No end to extra taxes required to service these suites. Nice if you deep pockets can get it.
Up 13 Down 1
Groucho d'North on Jul 28, 2021 at 10:06 am
I am curious if caretaker suites would be effective in reducing theft and vandalism for the property owners who store their equipment and stock on site? It's not just about bending the rules to create new housing options, some serious money is being lost to theft and vandals in the night.
Up 4 Down 6
Nathan Living on Jul 27, 2021 at 6:00 pm
When does the number of careraker suites become excessive?
There are benefits but of course a business may rent them to employees then eventualy to the public. I doubt bylaw will be checking. Again, how many caretaker suites is the right fit for an industrial area business?
I hope council really thinks this through. Sure there should be flexibility but I forsee one caretaker suite being expanded to four then along comes Billy Bob who says his business needs 6 caretaker suites then Captain Enterprise will sell her business for a tidy sum because it has 4 caretaker suites.
Up 10 Down 7
Max Mack on Jul 27, 2021 at 9:51 am
3 more caretaker suites?? Ummmm. On its face, this smells to high heavens. I hope council does its homework.
Up 12 Down 6
Martin on Jul 26, 2021 at 7:22 pm
Please approve this. If this was an option, I would jump into.
Up 12 Down 6
Resident1 on Jul 26, 2021 at 7:19 pm
The Marwell OCP very clearly shows want and need for the future plans of this area. What's the point of sending all that money developing a plan that is ignored? More variety in living and work spaces is exactly what Whitehorse needs. At 1000 sq ft 'families' aren't suited to live there and would be perfect for a single entrepreneur or young couple not wanting kids. That neighbourhood is barely considerable as industrial and has a beautiful waterfront with trails. It's even zoned for a dock.
Up 17 Down 2
Martin on Jul 26, 2021 at 7:18 pm
About time !. The zoning would be still industrial, but more flexible for people willing to live under that zoning regulations. Not everybody wants city's amenities.
Up 13 Down 7
Marc on Jul 26, 2021 at 5:23 pm
This makes a lot of sense. Work/live options suit current workplace demands. Work from home with access to a suitable workspace. No brainer.
Up 20 Down 25
Resident on Jul 26, 2021 at 2:27 pm
This was voted down last time due to concerns about the potential for residential use in an industrial zone. I hope council carefully considers the potential conflict if you suddenly have families demanding transit service, upgraded sidewalks, playgrounds, noise restriction, and other concessions. Whitehorse has few industrial areas, care needs to be taken.