Hard no for carriage house

Photo: City of Penticton

Penticton city council has sided with a neighbourhood in rejecting a five-bedroom carriage house proposed for the rear of a property on Kendall Crescent.

The carriage home proposed for 142 Kendall was before council Tuesday evening because it was both taller and larger than what city bylaws allow.

Including the sun deck, the home would have had a living space of more than 2,700 square feet — more than the current home on the property.

“Even through the building proposed is being called a carriage house, this plan meets the obvious definition of a single family dwelling,” said Frank and Laurie Conci in a letter to council. “It is, in reality, a house. What it definitely is not, is a small living space attached to or built above a garage.”

Sixteen property owners signed a petition opposed to the plan, spurred on by a carriage home built a few doors down that was supported by neighbours but is now regarded by some as an eyesore.

While city councillors acknowledged the beautiful design of the carriage home, they agreed with the neighbours.

“I share the concern that this is two full-blown homes, instead of one,” Coun. Campbell Watt said. “When I think carriage house, the definitions are along the same lines as mortgage helper, and when I’m looking for a mortgage helper to help me with my house my top concern isn’t going to be how big my sundeck is.”

Coun. Max Picton said bylaw variances are supposed to be for hardship, and a carriage home could easily be built on the property within the existing bylaws.

“The neighbourhood has value and merit to what they are saying, this is not appropriate,” said Coun. Judy Sentes.

During their discussions, councillors directed staff to bring the the city's carriage home bylaws back before council for a refresh at a later date, acknowledging Kendall Crescent is not the only neighbourhood grappling with the issue.