I, along with other letter writers and other Clayton homeowners, have an idea for the City of Surrey engineering department on the parking and illegal suite issue in Surrey.
The city has been called to investigate illegal suites an infinite number of times, but what really can end up happening is the kitchen cooking quarters are temporarily removed for the inspection and people point-blank lie to the bylaw officer about having that third profiting suite.
Numerous and frustrated Clayton homeowners have commented on picking up the slack for inconsiderate cheating people illegally renting and taking up all the street parking because of it. Same applies to those individuals who don`t utilize their double garages for what they are intended for – parking up to two vehicles and instead using them for storage or massive dog houses.
If every home in the congested areas of Clayton was assigned one numbered street parking spot as they do in some parts of White Rock, it may make the responsible property owners a little more sane and the irresponsible landlords with illegal multiple suites less greedy for profit. That one valued parking spot could be used for either a homeowner, a guest, or even a tenant.
More people may then use their carports and driveways and still have that extra assigned street spot and even better yet, the coach homes with still have a two-car garage and the parking spot beside the coach and assigned a street spot. It may just cut down on the illegal basement suites then if they know they don’t think they can park anywhere.
Right now I see some people parking two cars on the street and not using their garage for this purpose and numerous illegal basement suite occupants (some from the same homes whom don’t use garages either for parking) filling up the streets. Not fair at all.
If we take away something that’s not deserved then it can become an eye-opener for illegal suite homeowners and responsible tax-paying homeowners who do offer off-street parking to tenants a well deserved chance to enjoy their neighbourhood.
S. Sidhu
