Neighbours near a carriage house, under construction on Sinclair Road, have raised concerns about the height and the placement of the structure.
A building permit for the carriage house was submitted to the municipality in August and the building permit was issued in October.
Since construction began, people living near the building have sent letters to municipal staff with concerns about the structure.
The building, at 12416 Sinclair Rd., has a single car garage and a workshop on the main floor and a carriage house on the upper floor.
Under the municipality’s regulations, carriage homes are allowed in the RSD1 zone if certain conditions are met.
The carriage home meets the requirements for front, rear and interior side setback, building height, floor area, services, parking and lot coverage.
However, residents living near the house are concerned about the effect of the building on their properties.
“Not only does the new property stick out, the carriage house imposes on the five surrounding property owners,” Ken Zagrodney said in a letter to council. “Any privacy in our back yards is now gone.”
He added that the new building has also obscured the views from his home.
“Our view of Giant’s Head Mountain, meanwhile, is completely lost due to this structure,” he said.
Carmen Gibson and Jason Doyle, who also live near the carriage house, describe the effect of the house as an invasion of the neighbourhood’s privacy.
“I understand it is private property but fee the neighbourhood was not informed about the impact it would make to their properties,” they said in a letter to municipal staff.
Karen Christensen said the carriage house is changing the character of the area.
“The closest houses now feel like they are in a fishbowl with this new house looking down into their once private back yards and houses,” she said. “Their property values are sure to be affected as well.”
Jean Evanishen said the new building has blocked views and eliminated privacy.
At the municipal council meeting on Monday, council said building permits for two-storey carriage house buildings will not be issued for 60 days as municipal staff and council revisit the bylaw governing these buildings. The motion to halt the permits was approved with Coun. Erin Carlson and Coun. Doug Holmes opposed.
However, changes to the carriage house regulations will not affect the house already constructed, since legislation can only affect permits issued going forward, not those issued in the past.
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