More garage suites planned for Regina

Regina's Harbour Landing neighbourhood could be getting 20 garage suitesunder a proposal going to the city's planning commission Wednesday.

The city calls them "laneway suites" and if approved it'll bethe second time they'll be tried under a pilot program.

Earlier this year, the city gave its approval for 11 homes that have garages with rentableliving space above in the Greens on Gardiner neighbourhood in the southeast.

Now, a developer is looking at building another20 new homes that will have garage suites 14on James Hill Road and another six on McCaugheyStreet in Harbour Landing, a newer development on the westernedge of the city.

The city is grappling with a chronichousing shortage, with an apartment vacancy rate below two per cent. It thinks allowing people to rent out space above their garages might be part of the solution.

It hopes if the pilot projects are successful, there could be a biggerexpansion ofgarage suiteselsewhere in the city.

City officials say they're keen to see the Harbour Landing pilot proceed, but not everyone is onboard.

James Hill road is near a proposed school site, something that worries the Regina Public School Board.

It's worried about parking and vehicle congestion if the plan is approved.

The proposal will have to receive final approval from city council before it can proceed.