Postponed Housing

Backyard suite (accessory dwelling) design template

$30,000 for a ready-made design template for backyard suites, such as carriage houses or laneway homes. The Eaglecrest funding plan moved it from 2026 to 2027.

Amount
$30,000
Got
$0
Where it stands
To 2027. Moved by the Eaglecrest funding plan, Jul 2025.

What it is

An accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, is a small second home on the same lot as a house. Examples are a coach or carriage house, a laneway house or a tiny home. This $30,000 project would create a design template for them.

Town records we checked do not describe exactly what the template would include.

A housing plan prepared for the Town in 2026 recommends pre-approved designs for these homes. It says ready-made designs can lower design fees and speed up Town approvals.

What happened

  1. November 10, 2023The template (reference SI-33-23) was in the 2024–2028 plan at $30,000 for 2026. It was not among the items delayed for the Province's housing announcement.
  2. 2025The 2025–2029 Financial Plan shows $30,000 in 2026.
  3. July 23, 2025Council moved it from 2026 to 2027 as part of the Eaglecrest funding plan (Resolution 25-180, carried 4–1, Councillor Harrison opposed).
  4. April 1, 2026The adopted 2026–2030 Financial Plan shows $30,000 in 2027.
  5. July 15, 2026Council received the Ways to Achieve Attainable Market Housing Plan. It asked staff to report on the work needed for each recommendation, with next steps sent to 2027 strategic planning. Both carried unanimously.

Why it matters

  • The Province's November 2023 housing laws aim to allow more small-scale housing, including laneway homes, the Town noted.
  • The Town issued building permits for 11 suites or garden suites in 2023, 15 in 2024 and 13 in 2025.
  • The 2026 housing plan estimated a detached backyard home would cost about $400,000 to build and rent for about $2,700 a month, based on March 2026 prices.
  • It was one of eight initiatives moved from 2026 to 2027 by the Eaglecrest funding plan.
  • The 2026–2030 Financial Plan says Council's ability to go ahead with 2027 and later initiatives depends on paying back the Strategic Initiatives Reserve, expected in 2027 and 2028, and that Council will set priorities at its 2027 strategic planning.

Sources

Last checked September 18, 2026. Report a mistake.