People living in the D’Arcy Place area of Kitchener are raising concerns with a new build in their neighbourhood. The owner of a home in the area recently constructed a second dwelling in the side lot of their property. “[Construction] started a couple of weeks ago, and I was aware of the bylaw that the city had put out that you were allowed to build a tiny home or a backyard unit,” Regina Snider, a neighbour, said. “But I was not expecting something the size of an apartment building.” In August, building permits were approved for a new “detached additional dwelling unit” that included a finished basement. Snider said the windows of the structure sit above her fence. “I’m not blaming my neighbour. This lands at the feet of the city, the council and the mayor and what they’ve allowed and the bylaw that they’ve created and the building codes that they’ve created,” Snider said. “This could happen in any neighbourhood” She has contacted the city with her concerns. “They told me that they’re following the building codes and that’s just the way it is,” she said. “It is their bylaw and I would actually like it changed or revisited, because this could happen in any neighbourhood, on any side lot.” Snider says she can no longer enjoy her own property. “My backyard in my sanctuary. I worked very hard for the privacy that I have here, and it’s gone,” Snider said. “I don’t feel comfortable out there anymore. I have a hot tub. I’m trying to find solutions to it – potentially trees or some kind of lattice.” Snider is not the only one affected by the build. “I’m offended by it,” Mary Ambeau, another neighbour, said. “They didn’t have to have the height that it is there. Nobody else has a ten-foot basement in their house, so why should it be there? So they can stand there and look over the top of you?” Ambeau, whose home shares a fence with the new dwelling, feels its took close to her property and too tall for the space. She said she doesn’t believe she’ll be enjoying the use of her patio for much longer. “Too bad the city didn’t have the courtesy to let us know something was happening in the neighbourhood. And too bad our neighbour didn’t have the courtesy to let us know that something was happening so close to our property that was going to tower over the top of us.” City’s response The City of Kitchener said the unit was designed to include four bedrooms and a main floor of 773 sq ft. It meets the restrictions set out by the bylaw, and the proper processes were followed. Inspectors have also visited the site. “As projects proceed through the various construction phases, including the completion of framing, we will undertake additional inspections to determine that there is compliance with the approved plans,” Garret Stevenson, director of the development and housing approvals division for the City of Kitchener, said. “[Additional dwelling units] and tiny homes are part of the city’s approach to ensuring that we continue to accommodate housing types in all neighbourhoods, for all people, in all stages of their lives, and this is part of the housing continuum to ensure that we can continue to have infill housing in neighbourhoods that maintain the character while being able to welcome new residents to existing communities.” For now, Snider is looking at options to increase privacy in her backyard, but she worries about the cost. “I guess I’m going to have to learn to live with it somehow,” she said. “With trees, with privacy fences – what real choice is there? The other thing is, we’re all a little bit concerned – how does this affect our property value?” “I never expected in all the time that I’ve been here that there would be this thing in my backyard,” Ambeau said. “The value of our house has gone way down, probably about close to $100,000, and it doesn’t have any effect on them, but it sure has an effect on us as we’re retired.” CTV News tried to speak with the owners of the property where the project is, but they were not home or available for an interview.
