Basement apartment. Image labeled by Google for reuse. Basement apartment. Image labeled by Google for reuse.
Sarnia

City considering secondary dwelling units to address housing crisis

Plans to address Sarnia's affordable housing crisis will be discussed at city hall Monday.

Sarnia council will consider a recommendation to allow secondary dwelling units in any single detached, semi-detached or multiple attached dwellings.

Mayor Mike Bradley said it would really help the rental and housing market.

"Rents have risen considerably," said Bradley. "The whole point of the secondary dwelling units is to try and relieve some of that pressure in properly serviced areas, where it is feasible to have secondary dwellings to allow that to happen and that's trying to take some of the pressure off the market place."

Council will also consider replacing existing bed and breakfast regulations with new regulations for short-term rental accommodations, like Airbnb's.

"Were getting it every which way on this issue, from people that are in the business, to people in their neighbourhoods who are quite upset about the impacts on their neighbourhoods. So, what it is, is the basic responsibility of any city, to take care and control of issues that arise. That's what we're trying to do with these two issues."

Mayor Bradley expects a lively debate Monday with seven individuals registered to speak to the issues.

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