Greetings all,

For those of you who have survived the secondary suite process in Red Deer, I congratulate you.  There were no grants, the rules changed several times after the applications were in, and it occurred during an uncertain and trying economic time.  

Being a member of the Secondary Suite Committee as the lone (by admission) suite owner and having attended many of the Municipal Planning Committee meetings (along with a few of the Appeal Board’s decisions) I have seen and heard (too) much.  From all sides, it has been a bureaucratic, insightful, frustrating, commendable, fearful, enlightening, financially strenuous, ironic, hopeful, offensive, educational, stereotype exposing, due diligence process building, time wasting, bylaw and fire code interpretation challenging, network growing, and overall character building experience.

For those of you who attended your MPC hearing, kudos and thanks, especially those who travelled from BC and ON.  You made it easier for the next person in line and you outclassed some local residents.  I watched the committee’s demeanor week after week when no one was there to answer questions about the property (the agenda noted where the applicant lived).   To those who spoke at their MPC meeting or appeal; the intelligent, knowledgeable, and  skillful communication was gratifying, bias busting, and educational.   You would not believe the range of people who own a secondary suite in Red Deer!

If you chose not to subject yourself to the above process, you may be contacted by the city in the near future.  They are turning the majority of their attention to enforcement now that the backlog of applications have been dealt with.  They have the list, and they are checking it twice.

So, today’s infomercial is about the secondary suite licensing bylaw that will get at least first reading on Monday Nov 28^th. If I’m lucky, I’ll get the information attached.  If not, please go to the Red Deer website, look under council meetings, and read the agenda for Nov 28^th.

Main points:

-$165/year per property

-Must post license at entrance to suite (license will contain name, address & phone number of owner/manager or both)

-If owner/business located outside of Red Deer, must appoint local agent (ie-can be anyone who the owner designates, is considered to have full authority to act including giving the City permission to enter property)

-You must reapply each year for license, and with this application you give permission for the city to come in to inspect property

This bylaw includes any secondary suite (discretionary through MPC process, legal nonconforming recognized by the city, new build)…  Next stop-multifamily.

If you want your questions answered, I suggest you contact the Inspections and Licensing Department:

Bev Glass, Secondary Suite Coordinator 403-342-8208

Joyce Boon, Manager 403-342-8182

If you want to give a councillor your opinion:

Councillors (email addresses are firstname.lastname@reddeer.ca)