At its meeting Monday evening, city council passed first reading of a bylaw to change the zoning of a Black Street property to allow for a fourth residence on it.

A public hearing on the zoning amendment is scheduled for June 15.

Because council chambers are closed to the public during meetings, public hearings are currently being conducted by written submissions.

While the zoning amendment is specific to 604 Black St., city administration is suggesting council may want to consider a broader zoning amendment for the entire Old Town to allow other property owners the same opportunity.

The existing single-family home at 604 Black has already been converted to a multiple housing development with three suites.

The property owner would like to add a fourth suite to the top of the garage on the property, says the administrative report presented to council.

The Residential Downtown designation does allow for a maximum of four dwelling units per lot.

The information provided to council Monday and May 4 notes the garage is currently in compliance with the side-yard and rear-yard setbacks from the property lines for an accessory building.

But adding a suite to the top of the garage would transition the garage from an accessory building to a principal-use structure requiring larger setbacks from the property lines.

The garage sits 1.2 metres from the property line on the side, and two metres from the rear property line.

Under the current zoning, a principle-use structure must be at least 1.5 metres from the side property line and three metres from the rear. The amendment being sought would reduce the setbacks to 1.2 metres on the side and two metres on the rear.

Administration has told council there are a number of property owners in the Old Town who have indicated similar constraints to adding a garden suite to their properties – mostly on top of garages.

The Official Community Plan does encourage higher-density housing in the Old Town, which encompasses Ogilvie Street to Wood Street, and Sixth Avenue to the escarpment.

“Based on minimum lot sizes and other development regulations such as setback requirements, it has proven difficult for downtown residential property owners to maximize their allowable density unless they are willing to completely redevelop the property by demolishing all existing structures,” says the administrative report.

“If this zoning amendment is approved, council could also direct administration to examine broader changes that would allow more property owners to convert accessory structures into garden suites.”

Administration has told council the Black Street property owner has indicated moving the garage to become compliant with the setbacks required for principle-use structures would be cost-prohibitive.

Coun. Laura Cabott said Monday she would still like to see information about what it would cost to move the garage, to have a better understanding of the proposed zoning amendment.

Cabott did, however, support the first reading of the bylaw.

She said she’s interested in hearing what residents of the Old Town have to say about the proposal for the zoning amendment, as did Coun. Steve Roddick.

Coun. Dan Boyd inquired about how the garden suite would be serviced with water and sewer, and whether the garage sits on a concrete slab.

Pat Ross, the city’s acting director of planning, told council the services would have to be designed to come off the main building.

First reading of the bylaw to amend the zoning for 604 Black St. did receive unanimous support from council Monday night.

For the first time since closing the council chambers to the public in late March, there was more than one member of council present in the chambers.

Boyd and Cabott, who is serving as deputy mayor, joined Mayor Dan Curtis and senior administrators in chambers, though social distancing was adhered to.