South Pender trustees discussed proposed home-size limits
At a June 2 information meeting, trustees and staff answered questions about rebuilding homes and the proposed limits in Bylaw 122.
The South Pender Firestarter · Governance · 2022-06-02 · updated 2026-10-16 · South Pender Island
The proposed South Pender land-use bylaw would set maximum dwelling floor areas, and staff said a home damaged by fire could be rebuilt to its existing floor area and side-lot siting if those dimensions were no greater than they were when the bylaw was adopted. Staff said the draft did not yet include a similar provision for the setback from the sea, which the committee might consider amending.[1]
The meeting minutes record concerns about how the proposed floor-area limits were chosen, whether they could affect rebuilding and insurance, and how legal non-conforming rules would apply. Trustees said their research included Canadian average home sizes and BC Assessment data, and that preserving the island’s rural character was among the reasons for the proposed changes.[1]
In the recording, a trustee said the proposed 3,500-square-foot limit for properties over 10 acres could be increased, while noting that the trustee was one voice on the committee. The trustee also said the proposed limits and the possibility of larger homes through a variance were part of the discussion.[2]
The minutes say the meeting also covered proposed Bylaw 123, including an introductory statement acknowledging First Nations and proposed building design and siting guidelines. The next meeting was scheduled as an electronic meeting on June 17, 2022.[1]
Sources
-
South Pender Island Local Trust Committee special meeting minutes, June 2, 2022
A dwelling can be rebuilt if the siting and floor area is the same or less dimensions at the time of bylaw adoption for maximum floor area and interior/exterior side lot lines;
link checked · passage found in the document we hold
-
Transcript of the meeting recording (220602B)
The 3,500 for me personally, for a property in excess of 10 acres, I think that could go up.
link checked · passage found in the document we hold