Wed Mar 23 2011 Leader

Page 1

Surrey schools win two at B.C.’s page 19

An Iraqi pilgrimage for the kids page 23

Wednesday March 23, 2011 Serving Surrey and North Delta www.surreyleader.com

20,000 suites, 1 permit application Three months after Surrey enacts new secondary suite rules, public is slow to react by Kevin Diakiw OF THE more than 20,000 owners of illegal secondary suites in Surrey, only one has applied for a permit to legalize their unit since the city passed a law allowing one suite per home three months ago. After more than 30 years of grappling with the issue, on Dec. 13, 2010, Surrey enacted legislation allowing one secondary suite per home throughout the city. Surrey views secondary suites as a necessary form of affordable housing stock. Part of the new legislation is intended to bring existing secondary suites up to current B.C. Building Code standards, so the units will be safer. But as of March 21, The Leader has learned just one homeowner has applied for the necessary permits. Acting Mayor Barinder Rasode isn’t pleased with the situation. “Obviously, we need to do a better job of educating Barinder Rasode the public that this is something they need to move on quickly,” Rasode said Monday. “And we probably haven’t done that in a way that we should yet.” Rasode, whose home has a suite, initiated the process of obtaining necessary permits before the bylaw was passed. Tara Foslien, senior communications specialist for Mayor Dianne Watts, said by email Monday the city is initially focusing on homes with multiple suites. Surrey’s new bylaw does not allow multiple suites in a single-family home.

“Obviously, we need to do a better job of educating the public...”

EVAN SEAL / THE LEADER

A new bylaw enacted in December 2010 allows one secondary suite per home in Surrey. So far, just one person has complied with the legislation and applied for a permit to legalize their suite.

See HOMES / Page 3

What will survive the great shake-up? Some Metro structures vulnerable to earthquake by Jeff Nagel MANY BRIDGES, dams and other major infrastructure around the Lower Mainland have undergone seismic upgrades, but questions linger as to exactly how big an earthquake they could withstand and which structures might fail. Public imagination focuses on “the big one” – a

magnitude 8 to 9 super-quake centred far offshore and deep beneath the seabed in the Cascadia subduction zone. That would be similar to the magnitude 9.0 earthquake that has devastated Japan and would rock the entire Pacific Northwest. See NEW STRUCTURES / Page 4

During a major earthquake, engineers expect the new Port Mann Bridge would ‘dance,’ but not fall down.

Editorial 6 Letters 7 Sports 19 Life 23 Classifieds 27

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