A newly formed “Surrey Ratepayers Association” has been in talks with city planners to have the house size limits of the single family residential zoning removed. They also want this to be applied retroactively to all properties that illegally built larger than the current by-law, negating any stop-work order or legal action taken by the city on those properties.  The city planners, in return, are recommending increasing house sizes by 1000 square feet.

The Surrey Association of Sustainable Communities (SASC) has since met with the city planners to raise concerns regarding this request and how it’s been handled by the city.

Their concerns include:

1. A lack of public consultation prior to proceeding to Council with recommendations;
2. Inaccurate, misleading and incomplete information within the Corporate Report;
3. A lack of analysis as to the impacts of the proposed modification on the City;
4. A disregard for the environment and the principles within the Sustainability Charter;
5. The creation of a culture where compliance is ignored and rule-breaking is encouraged;
6. Inequitable treatment of citizenry, specifically this case vs. downzoning of St. Helen’s;
7. Implications for an over-burdened infrastructure system, and inequitable taxation.

Please read the linked corporate report that was presented to Council by city planners and the minutes from the meeting between SASC and the city planners for more detailed information.

This topic will also be discussed at the next SASC meeting, Thursday July 16th at 7pm at Port Kells Community Hall.

Corporate Report C005 – Modification to RF Zoning

SASC Meeting Minutes – June 29, 2009