Grande Prairie council considering garden suites to reduce urban sprawl [Video]

The City of Grande Prairie is continuing to work on its land use bylaw (LUB) that would allow garden suites to make more housing available and reduce urban sprawl.

The LUB currently allows for garage suites where a suite is attached to a garage and has an internal parking space; garden suites will not require an internal parking space.

“All of the comparable municipalities do allow garden suites to some degree, with different regulations, as well as garage suites,” said Alison Downing, city senior planner.

The city compared backyard suite regulations to Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and Medicine Hat.

“Calgary and Edmonton have the most lenient regulations with no minimum parking requirements,” reads a city report.

“In contrast, Medicine Hat only allows backyard suites on lots with lanes while Red Deer limits them to corner lots or lots with lanes.”

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