Alex Kurial
Local Journalism Initiative

St. Clair Township has struck down the idea of detached second dwellings in residential areas.

Southside Construction wanted the so called granny flats in a planned housing development in Courtright. The London based developer requested three bylaw changes, most notably allowing for a second dwellings. Currently the township only allows for second units to be attached to the main residence.

There was little enthusiasm for the proposal with more than 50 neighbours voicing opposition.

Council sent Southside back to the drawing board to flesh out their proposal.
But after multiple meetings between county staff and developers and an assessment of new information provided, St. Clair staff still weren’t sold.

One area of concern involved rules around lot coverage. Southside had asked for a pair of bylaw changes to boost total lot coverage from 35 to 40 per cent and exempt the detached second units from a 10 per cent accessory lot rule.

“The applicant has not demonstrated a justifiable rational to support increasing the lot coverage for the independent additional unit,” staff say.

As for the idea of detached second dwellings themselves, staff acknowledged “providing adequate housing is a constant challenge and ongoing concern for municipalities.” Southside stressed recent changes to the provincial Planning Act which says municipalities need to allow more additional units on properties.

But St. Clair wasn’t convinced these additional units must be detached. “It is also important to recognize that despite the provincial changes, the expectation is that each municipality facilitate these changes in a manner that they deem appropriate,” reads the staff report.

Staff also said allowing such a change would cause “a shift of the community character.”
If Southside still wants to proceed with second dwellings staff recommended they build them in the garage.