Photo: Colin Dacre

The District of Summerland is considering changes to the bylaw regulating carriage houses, with a public hearing scheduled for Monday night.

A report by district staff recommends carriage houses on lots smaller than one hectare are required to be connected to municipal water and sanitary sewer systems.

Carriage houses are defined as additional dwellings in accessory structures.

The amended bylaw also aims to clarify maximum floor areas, heights of carriage houses based on lot size and more "housekeeping," amendments listed in the staff report. 

The zoning bylaw created in 2011 was amended in 2017 to allow carriage houses floor areas to be 90 meters squared on all lots where carriage houses are a permitted use.

District staff are proposing the elimination of regulated window sill heights to help with safety as well as generally restricting carriage house heights to 4.5 meters on all urban residential lots where they are a permitted.

The public hearing takes place at 7 p.m. on Jan. 28 in the council chambers at Municipal Hall.