As Port Moody council considered the public consultation process for a so-called "good neighbour bylaw," some residents of the Ioco Road corridor expressed concerns that the changes amount to too much, too fast and could devalue their homes.
And while most speakers said they were against "monster homes," they also questioned what, exactly, the term means.
"I feel bad for the families who are impacted but it's irresponsible to knee-jerk react," said Glenn Cherepak, an April Road resident.
He bought his home earlier this year and, despite plans to renovate, the condition of the foundation necessitated a rebuild - which he fears will get snarled in delays while council debates changes to the zoning bylaw.
"I don't want my nice house to get caught in bureaucracy because you guys are rushing to respond to a squeaky wheel," he said. "This is turning into an I-was-here-first bylaw."
Mark Jauck, who is an Ioco Road property owner and developer, said the sudden changes are putting his business - and homeowners' property values - at risk.
"Can you imagine anyone paying current market value for the right to build a home of 2,350 sq. ft. over three levels?" he asked. "That's the size of an attached townhouse."
Ray Gaucher, an Ioco Road resident of 40 years, worried the proposed bylaw changes are too punitive, particularly for retirees depending on their home equity to provide income.
And while one speaker questioned whether a person has a guaranteed right to their view in perpetuity, another emphasized the loss in property values for those dwarfed by neighbouring mega homes.
Council has been looking at the issue of monster homes since a group of residents in the Ioco Road corridor complained about the proliferation of the large houses - along with blocked views and sky-high retaining walls - early in the summer.
A town hall meeting in mid July raised a number of concerns and, after a lengthy discussion at the July 29 council meeting, city staff were directed to report back on several potential amendments to the zoning bylaw to address the issue of "mega homes," including:
incorporating the floor area of finished and unfinished basements, garages, carports and the double-height space of lofted entrances in floor area ratio calculations;
limiting the height of house podiums above grade, and redefining podiums to include exposed foundation walls, columns, stilts, retaining walls, fill or other means of of elevating a building above grade;
limiting the height of retaining walls to a maximum of 2.4 m and introducing a minimum 1:1 property line setback for them;
introducing a new means of grade calculation using the average grade based on measurements taken at the lowest elevations at the front and rear of the lot;
capping the maximum permitted building height for both peaked and flat roofs at 10.5 m and introducing a maximum eave height to that of the existing or previous house on the lot; and,
increasing minimum rear and front yard setbacks to preserve view corridors.
At Tuesday's meeting, council approved staff's proposed public consultation plan with residents in the Ioco Road/Pleasantside neighbourhood.
Staff have identified a study area that encompasses 944 properties - a scale much larger than expected, said James Stiver, general manager of development services - and will build an email database for electronic updates on the process as well as regular updates to the city's dedicated web page on the topic.
A town hall meeting will take place on Oct. 27.
