Better driver training delayed page 5
Rams raided in Nanaimo page 19
Wednesday July 28, 2010 Serving Surrey and North Delta www.surreyleader.com
Both Surrey and Delta move to legalize secondary suites
Feathered refuge
Suite approval
Biologist cares for variety of unique birds by Hannah Sutherland
A
by Kevin Diakiw SURREY IS forging ahead to allow secondary
suites in all single family dwellings. According to a poll conducted this month by Ipsos Reid, 63 per cent of Surrey residents support allowing a suite in all homes. The most supportive community was Newton (65 per cent) and least was South Surrey (57 per cent). The telephone poll of 1,500 people was conducted between June 28 and July 6 and is statistically accurate to +/- 2.8 per cent 19 times out of 20. A report to city council Monday night recommends a policy where: • One secondary suite will be allowed in all single family dwellings in the city; • Multiple suites in a house will be prohibited; • The building owner resides on the premises; • The owner of the home Watts provides extra off-street parking; • Extra fees will be charged to cover city services; • Existing suites comply with building codes. Council members supported the recommendations unanimously. “I think it’s a balanced approach,” said Mayor Dianne Watts. “Like I said, the issues have been multiple suites, and contribution to garbage pick up and things like that.” The issue of secondary suites has dogged Surrey for years. In the 1970s, council prohibited secondary suites. Angry homeowners stormed city hall, saying they’d lose their homes if their suite income was taken away. The city abandoned that plan, then 10 years later attempted to limit suites to predetermined
BOAZ JOSEPH / THE LEADER
A sandhill crane feeds its 10-day-old chick at David Hancock’s aviary in South Surrey.
s David Hancock swings open the gate to his yard, he is greeted by his regular house guests, the first of which include Bahama pintail and blue-billed ruddy ducks. “Hello guys, how are you?” Hancock says in a melodic voice as the waterfowl wade through a pond stretched across the lawn. The South Surrey acreage is home to about 20 bird species, some of which are permanent residents, while others – such as a family of wild Canada geese – are just visiting. The parents come to Hancock’s property annually to raise their young, and this year, they have with them four babies who are just learning to fly. Hancock, a biologist, said the youngsters will have seven to 10 days to master the skill before the family leaves and returns next February. Other feathered members of the backyard community are heard before they are seen. As Hancock navigates his way along the pond’s rock wall, he stops to listen to the cry of a nearby pileated woodpecker. It’s a baby, and the first time he has heard its call. While most of the inhabitants of Hancock’s property seem calm and indifferent to his approach, he steps more carefully around the sometimes aggressive, full-grown sandhill cranes. Just a few metres away are two adults with stilt-like legs, long, arching necks and pointed beaks. Their large, grey-feathered wings are folded around their bodies as they walk around the perimeter of the yard, watching their surroundings closely with eyes framed by a splash of red. They are wary, and Hancock warns they could strike if threatened. It’s easy to understand why, once the couple’s offspring – just the size of a See WORKING / Page 20
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