Proposal for the accessory building
Image Credit: District of Lake Country
November 04, 2020 - 11:32 AM
Lake Country district council has given the green light for construction of a large garage that will include an indoor pool, elevator and craft room despite staff recommendations that a development permit be declined.
District of Lake Country staff recommended that councillors deny a development permit and variances for a large accessory building because guidelines had not been met, but council decided otherwise yesterday, Nov. 3.
The two-storey building will be attached to a home on Chase Road and includes a three-bay garage with an indoor pool on the main floor, a craft room and storage areas on the second floor, as well as an elevator.
READ MORE: Homeowner has already cleared land for development Lake Country staff opposes
There is an existing single-family residence with an attached garage on the 1.98-hectare property, according to a district staff report. In preparation for the development, the applicant already cleared a natural slope in 2019.
Mayor James Baker said the building does not impact neighbouring sight lines, and bylaws for the accessory building were updated midway through the development application. The design meet the previous bylaw requirements, which had changed by the time it was brought to council.
"The homeowner wasn’t trying to get away with anything, it was designed for lifetime occupancy and they made a good case," Baker said
The homeowner will also get rock flowers at the front of the complex and soil to restore some of the slope that will not be covered by the building, he said.
“It makes a whole lot more sense than trying to make it an addition or separate house. It doesn’t quite meet the height requirements in terms of accessory size but because it’s mostly a pool or garage, it’s not going to be a lived in house,” he said.
Baker said staff can make recommendations but it's always council's decision.
"Our bylaws are a little onerous in this case because they changed in mid-course."
A covenant has been created to ensure a breezeway will connect the original home to the new building so it is not used as a second house.
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