Annexure 2: Resident Testimonials regarding Secondary Suites

2) Annexure 2: Background and examples of special circumstances, expectations and relevant information expressed by residents.

a)

From: "Angela Tolsma" al.angela@shaw.ca To: Chris Nel/CanWest/IBM@IBMCA Date: 16/07/2012 07:18 PM Subject: Re: Meeting with the Mayor

Hi Chris,

I am enclosing my story. Let me know if you require anything else. Thanks

Blessings,

Angela

Allan and Angela Tolsma – 400 Nursery Hill Drive

Our story

We have lived in View Royal for the last 18 years; four of them on Nursery Hill Drive. The only reason we moved from our previous home to our current one was so our older children (21 and 23 at the time) could live independently of us, while at the same time still be connected to the family; as well, giving them an opportunity to save money for their future. The suite is only a one bedroom but our other daughter used the room connected to our home which is on the same floor. She has since moved out and our 17 year old daughter is going to move into her room but will not be living in the suite she will still be living in our home.

From the very beginning we have never had any intention to have anyone living in the suite except one or two of our 4 children and possibly Allan’s parents; if there should come a time they cannot live independently. If we had known that we were not allowed to have our children living in the suite in our home, we would never have bought the house.

Because we purchased the house while it was still being constructed, we also had two separate parking spots put in so there would be no issue with parking and later on we had the small piece of garden on the side of the driveway taken out so we could have our driveway extended, to make another parking spot. Looking into the future, we had the yard designed so that the suite could have its own patio should Allan’s parents need to come to live with us.

---

b)

From: poliahlu3@hotmail.com To: leenta@shaw.ca Subject: Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2012 23:26:35 -0700

Hi Leenta:

Re: Rental suite at 424 Nursery Hill Drive

We would like to rent our two bdrm Basement suite for the following reason:

• Our lot is approx. over 9000sq.ft.and our house is over 3500sq.ft. The house is occupied by two of us. We have enough space at eh upper level. The basement suite is approx. over 900 sq.ft. unused space in our house.
• Our house is located by the park on the three sides of it and we would like to rent for a security reason so that some one is living down stair to lookafter the side of the house.
• We have double garage and six car parking available in the driveway.
• We rent to only one or two car tenants.
• It does help us financially.

These are the some reasons we would mention in the joint letter.

Thanks,

Preeti &Hardip Ahluwalia 424 Nursery Hill Drive

---

c)

From: Becky Conarroe Becky.Conarroe@sjrb.ca To: Chris Nel/CanWest/IBM@IBMCA Cc: "Dustin" dustin4u@shaw.ca Date: 01/08/2012 09:11 PM Subject: Letter regarding 433 Nursery Hill Drive

To Whom It May Concern,

Our family of four lives at 433 Nursery Hill Drive. My husband and I have a 13 year old boy and 8 year girl. We moved to the our house in July of 2008. We were so excited to be part of a close knit community where kids could play on the street freely. Our house was built with a suite, which was great because we definitely needed the extra income to be able to afford it. My kids would be so upset if we had to move now that they have met friends and playmates on the street, but unfortunately there is just no way we could stay without the income from our suite. We ask you to please consider rezoning our street so we can make these suites legal. Our tenant, who is a single male, has his own driveway with 2 parking spots so when he has visitors they can park there as well. Our plan for the future is to have my mother in law move in as she has a disability and will need our help at some point in the future, but for now, we just want to be able to provide our family with stability in where they live as they grow up.

Thank you for your consideration,

Becky and Dustin Conarroe

---

d)

From: chris popeyesvictoria@shaw.ca To: Chris Nel/CanWest/IBM@IBMCA Date: 31/07/2012 09:38 PM Subject: Re: Secondary Suites - Nursery Hill Dr & Meeting with the Mayor

440 Nursery Hill Dr.

I was the 1st full time resident on Nursery Hill Dr and have enjoyed watching our neighbourhood come together over the past 4 years. I have spent every dime I own on this house and was looking forward to spending many more enjoyable years here at this location. I am still confused of why we are even having to deal with the issue of secondary suites. We have not created issues for anyone else in the area and have self policed ourselves when it comes to parking on the street. The only issue we ever had was due to Thetis Lake traffic and we took steps to stop then over 2.5 yrs ago.

I have always been totally upfront with my plans in regards to having a suite, as it was shown in my blueprints from DAY # 1. What confuses me more is why was nothing ever brought to my attention when the View Royal building inspector looked at my place, took my fee and passed my inspection because nothing has been changed from that day. It was good enough to pass inspection at that point, but now after almost 4 years the same office now has a problem with it?

I pay more then my share of taxes to the city of View Royal. I pay into schools that I will never need or use probably ever. So what really is the problem? You want me to pay more taxes (on top of my water bill) to cover a few extra flushes? then please come up with a fair price and let's move forward so we all can focus on more important issues that actually effect our community and our world.

I have been a strong supporter of the current council and hope that this one time I can have their backing on this issue. Ruling against allowing us to keep our suites would dramatically effect my future. I do not have to the money to either alter my home in anyway or take the loss of any income from my suite.

I seriously hope we can agree on a plan that will allow us to retain our suite and continue living in this area for many years to come

Regards,

Christopher G Kinnear

---

e)

From: Hari krishan sharma hk_sharma@hotmail.com To: Chris Nel/CanWest/IBM@IBMCA Cc: Angela al.angela@shaw.ca, GursevArvind gursev_takhar@yahoo.ca Date: 24/07/2012 08:01 AM Subject: 409 NHD Owner story for Mayor's letter

Chris,

Please find the revised story for 409 NHD, to be attached with Mayor's letter.

Thanks, Hari Hari Krishan & Promila Sharma

409 Nursery Hill Dr Lot#22

Victoria BC

We moved from Nanaimo in August of 2011 and purchased 409 Nursery Hill Drive home with the promise of a secondary suite. We loved this home because it provided extra space for our family and more room for our growing children that are going to the University of Victoria. More importantly, this house came with a secondary suite which would provide the extra income needed to pay off the huge mortgage. With a single earer in the family and financially dependent university kids, it is almost impossible to make ends meet without the financial assistance of the secondary suite. The town of View Royal boasts of affordable housing but essentially disregards this by disallowing secondary suites.