Secondary home bylaw suite success for Stoney Creek couple

When Mike and Sue Fillion began planning for their retirement home earlier this year, they didn't have to look far to find the ideal spot: their backyard.

The residents of Blenheim Drive in Stoney Creek are taking advantage of a recent city bylaw allowing homeowners to build attached or separate secondary dwelling units - commonly known as garden suites or granny flats.

The Fillions' standalone one-storey suite meets all of the May 2021 bylaw's conditions, including a maximum floor area of 75 square metres, or about 800 square feet, six-metre height limit, and minimum 1.5-metre setback from side and rear yards.

They opted for a single bedroom, rather than the two allowed, and will have a front porch - but no balcony, rooftop patio or basement, which aren't permitted.

Best of all, they say, their son and daughter-in-law will move into their existing home, ending the Toronto couple's fruitless search for an affordable house elsewhere.

It's hard when you're paying $2,000 in rent and you're trying to buy. This made common sense for our family," Sue said.

We thought, What a great opportunity, because our kids will never be able buy something right now, so bring the family together,'" she said, adding with a laugh: And give me a new house."

Jenny Bognar, a registered building technician who designed the home, said this is the first of four secondary dwelling units she's worked on to begin construction.

The new bylaw made for a smooth approval process at city hall, she said, unlike in Burlington, which requires two parking spots each for the existing home and new unit.

That's next to impossible" in Burlington's downtown area, where most people want to build, she said.

You essentially do not need any extra parking for this unit," Bognar said, noting Hamilton's bylaw only requires the Fillions to maintain existing parking. That makes things a lot easier."

Builder Kevin Ritskes said Hamilton is leading the way on secondary dwelling units, which are more affordable because they share an existing property that has some utilities already in place.

Prices range from about $200 to $600 per square foot depending on how upscale the unit is, but the cost is generally about a third of a new home, he said.

It is in all purposes a brand new home. You're doing a full foundation, you're doing everything that way," Ritskes said.

When you want to start saving money, you can do an attached (unit) or a second storey. Those are some of the options the city has made available," he said. There's different ways to do it, but this option is by far the best."

The Fillions said they have spoken to neighbours on all sides of their property and none objected to the backyard unit, expected to be completed early next year.

I can see people doing it to have rental income or something like that, but I think you're going to find (for) more and more people, it's going to be families wanting to be together," Mike said.

Ward 10 Coun. Maria Pearson said she believes the Fillions' plan is an example of what the province intended when it required municipalities to allow secondary dwelling units as of right" to create more affordable housing.

She said she's aware of one other unit in the ward that was built for rental and initial neighbourhood concerns about parking were quickly put to rest by the results, which included enough vehicle spots.

I drive by all the time and it's well-kept," Pearson said. At the end of the day, whether it's a family or it's a rental, we need housing. There's no question about it," she said.

I just want to be sure that it blends into a neighbourhood and it's not obtrusive."

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: The Fillions contacted us about their plan to build a secondary dwelling unit and we wanted to learn more.