Let’s head back to June of 1965, when a delegation of South Delta residents attended a municipal council meeting urging refusal of permits for any basement suites in duplexes, as well as duplexes, in single-family zones.
The members of the South Delta Taxpayers’ Society warned single-family residents should be given protection from rentals and duplexes and that rental housing, unless meticulously maintained by a conscientious landlord, would reflect badly on surrounding property values.
Mrs. Al Chambers told council revisions were needed to the current bylaw to stop “a completely untenable” situation for homeowners.
The society asked council to amend a section of the bylaw so that duplex housing would only be allowed in areas of multiple dwellings, and for suites in any single-family houses to be banned as soon as they are vacated.
Reeve Clarence Taylor told Chambers there were already “definite areas” in South Delta zoned for single-family residences only.
Council at the time refused to make any changes to the bylaw, although suites and rentals would remain a highly contentious issue in the years ahead.
