Tiny home input sought
City looks to accommodate growing interest in small-scale living
Erin Steele
Northern News Services
Friday, May 20, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Tiny homes may be rubbing elbows with their taller, wider counterparts as the city mulls changes to the bylaw that could make it happen.
Etienne Croteau is living in this tiny home, temporarily in an Old Town lot. If the city goes ahead with changing the zoning bylaw to allow for smaller lot sizes that could accommodate a home like Croteau's, he says he would certainly take advantage of it. - photo courtesy of Etienne Croteau |
The zoning bylaw lays out what sort of developments can go where. As it stands, there's a minimum lot size - 334 square metres - but no minimum dwelling size, so those who want a mini abode in city limits must pay for a larger-than-necessary lot to accommodate it. The city is looking to create a small homes zone, which could downsize the minimum lot to about 108 square metres - though this figure could change depending on public response.
"People want smaller houses and they have difficulties under the current zoning," said Wenyan Yu, manager of planning and lands. The city has heard from both residents and small-scale developers, she said, although she declined to name names, who have expressed interest in small-scale housing.
Once a small homes zone becomes an option, a landowner or developer could apply to rezone the land, at which time the city would assess whether the location is appropriate and whether the development is "compatible with existing urban fabric," said Yu.
Etienne Croteau is thrilled tiny homes are turning heads at the city. The Yellowknifer has been living in a tiny home he built since October, temporarily placed in an Old Town parking lot. If the city goes ahead with the zoning changes, he said he will definitely take advantage of it.
"It's a great thing," he said. "I'm really, really happy."
Croteau had approached city council in the fall to propose a tiny-house neighbourhood, and although his proposition differed from what the city is now looking at, he said "city hall heard me."
Croteau's house cost $80,000 to build and is about 107 square metres. It is just under seven metres long, 2.5 metres wide, and the sloped ceiling is four metres at its highest point.
It was the high cost of living that drove Croteau to go small.
"(It's) hard to live in Yellowknife and pay rent of $1,000 a month," he said.
And it's going well, so far.
"For me it's a lot of freedom because you adapt your own things to your own needs."
His tiny home has a composting toilet, a fridge, hot water, solar panels, and he uses gas and propane for energy, costing about $125 a month. He has a garden on a pulley system and he also works out of his tiny home. But there are obstacles, aside from the necessary downsizing of one's life. Currently, a person cannot get a mortgage or insurance on a tiny home.
"The system doesn't work for tiny house owners," said Croteau, adding with more discussion and pressure on politicians, he hopes that will change.
He said if the city goes ahead with the plan, and tiny homes on small lots eventually hit the market, he would expect the home and land to cost a maximum of $200,000. Yu didn't provide a cost estimate for a 108-square metre lot, but said lots between 500 and 800 square metres are currently on the market for between $100,000 and $120,000. Structures would still have to conform to the national building code. Yu said the city would likely regulate structure size.
Although any plan to sell smaller lots is in the very early stages, the most likely scenario, according to Yu, are pockets of tiny-home developments throughout the city, although a dedicated neighbourhood is not being ruled out.
"At this moment we don't have a location identified within the city," said Yu, adding the original intent was to let the market and developers determine the location. An existing neighbourhood - with existing zoning - would be difficult to change, but a new area without residential development would be more feasible, she said.
Yu couldn't provide a timeline, but changes to the zoning bylaw would have to go to city council for approval. The online survey is available on the city's website until May 27.
Croteau said the benefits to tiny-home living are huge.
"Think tiny for a bigger life," he said. "(There's) more freedom, more better feeling about what you do; what you can bring to this world."
