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REQUIREMENTS AND
DESIGN GUIDELINES
Adaptable Housing requirements are modest improvements
to accessibility and adaptability in residential buildings
that make it easier for people to "remain in place"
as they age, and experience illness or injury.
Saanich's Adaptable Housing is based on the principle of
"visitability". This means that people's
homes should be accessible to everyone, not just able-bodied
people. It eases problems associated with isolation,
and allows people with physical limitations to visit friends
and neighbours, and stay in communities where they have
developed social ties.
Forecasts in demographics predict that Saanich's population
is aging. In 30 years, the proportion of seniors over
the age of 65 will double and make up almost one-third of
the population. Increasing the stock of seniors-friendly
housing is important for the social well-being of the community
and the quality of life of Saanich's residents.
Adaptable Housing features follow "universal design"
principles, meaning that the housing can appeal to everyone.
Adaptable Housing features are visually unnoticeable, and
allow increased flexibility in selling or renting homes.
Including these features at the design stage is inexpensive
and greatly reduces the cost of renovation in the future.
ADAPTABLE HOUSING- MANDATORY
AND VOLUNTARY
| In November 2003, Saanich Council
passed an amendment to the Zoning Bylaw that requires
most newly-constructed apartment buildings and seniors'
congregate care facilities be built to include Basic
Adaptable Housing standards. Building permits
issued for apartment buildings with
an elevator and common corridor must comply with the
new regulations.
Those applying for rezoning, subdivison and development
permit applications are also encouraged to incorporate
features from the voluntary design guidelines for
apartment buildings, townhouses, and single-family
homes. |
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BASIC ADAPTABLE HOUSING
The mandatory Basic Adaptable
Housing features include barrier-free access to
all suites and amenity areas, wider doorways, manoeuvring
room at suite entries and corridors, access to a main-floor
bathroom, reinforcement of bathroom walls for future installation
of grab bars, and accessible door handles, switches, and
outlets.
Basic Adaptable Housing is required for newly-constructed
residential buildings serviced by an elevator containing
apartment or congregate housing uses.
ENHANCED ADAPTABLE HOUSING
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The voluntary Enhanced
Adapatable Housing Design Guidelines apply
to apartment buildings. They provide a higher
level of accessible and adaptable features than Basic
Adaptable and are appropriate, for example, for seniors
housing. Those applying for rezoning and development
permit applications for apartment buildings are encouraged
to incorporate as many of these features as possible. |
SINGLE FAMILY AND TOWNHOUSE
ADAPTABLE HOUSING
Accessiblity and adaptability
are also important for ground-oriented housing.
The intent is to provide the flexibility to enable
an occupant to live on the ground floor if necessary,
and to improve general accessiblity into and throughout
the dwelling unit.
A no-step entry can usually be incorporated without
a ramp by grading the walkway to the front door.
Builders undertaking subdivisions and construction
projects are encouraged to incorporate the voluntary
Single Family
and Townhouse Adaptable Housing Design Guidelines
into their developments. |
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MORE INFORMATION
For more information, please read the
FAQ, or contact the Planning Department at
475-5472.
LINKS
http://www.mcaws.gov.bc.ca/housing/planhouse/2004/adapt.htm
http://www.cnv.org/c/server.aspx?c=3&i=206
http://www.adaptablehousing.org
http://www.concretechange.org
ARTICLES
Visitability: A New Direction for Changing Demographics
Discrimination Begins at Home: The Case For Universal Design of Private Housing
REFERENCE MATERIAL
Flexhousing: Houses that Adapt to Life's Changes,
1999, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
The Adaptable House, 2002, Avi Friedman, McGraw-Hill
Ryerson Publications
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