Town approves garden and garage suites for land use within Lakewood

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Lakewood of Strathmore has reacquired clearance from the Town of Strathmore permitting garden and garage suites to be legally present within the neighbourhood. 

As of the recurred permissions, Lakewood is currently the sole neighbourhood within the town that is allowed to feature garden and garage suites.

“We did a master plan of Lakewood for Phase 2B back in 2024. It included garage suites. That was part of the blanket zone that happened throughout the entire Town of Strathmore,” explained Scott Silva, director of sales and marketing for Lakewood of Strathmore. “Our master plan design around these garage suites made a rear lane that is eight meters wide instead of seven meters or sometimes even six, which is what you’ll find here in town.”

Several of the lots present within the subsection are also 20 feet longer than a traditional suburban lot, specifically accounting for the construction of a garage suite on the properties.

Silva clarified this additional space also accounted for additional off-street parking on the front of the properties or off of the rear lanes. 

“Why that is important is because anytime you get a garage suite, especially in an existing neighbourhood, there is usually conditions that are conducive to having additional off-street parking,” he explained. “Knowing that, we planned and master designed Phase 2B in Lakewood with the rear lanes in mind of what was to come.”

Despite being passed previously as effective blanket rezoning, the Town of Strathmore repealed its decision to allow garden and garage suite development on existing properties in 2025. 

The Lakewood team, in their request of the town only aimed to restore permissions which had previously been green lit when their subdivision and land use applications were approved in 2024. 

Town of Strathmore council voted unanimously to restore the land use permissions to Lakewood of Strathmore during the April 15 meeting. 

“I am impressed with what I have seen; I like the fact that we have got an entire area that is set out to have this type of home; it is going to help with young people either staying in their homes or young families staying and being able to afford a place to live,” said Mayor Pat Fule.

“The parking does not scare me because if you drive around Strathmore, you see lots of vehicles parked in front of double garages … but I am very appreciative and I respect the fact that this is an entire area of what looks to be very nice units that can have more housing options for the town, but also help people get into home ownership.”

Silva explained having the status back is helpful for several reasons – namely being that several units have already been designed and sold on the premise that secondary suites of some sort would be a legal part of the custom property design.

Between garden, garage, and basement suites being allowed, this not only supports multi-generational living situations, but also the ability for suites to be rented out by the homeowners, making mortgages more accessible, as well as increasing local availability on the rental market.