After a lengthy discussion at Monday's Council meeting, Councillors were still unable to make a decision on secondary suites in High River.

They were left stumped on whether or not to allow secondary suites in R-1 areas as discretionary use or to allow them as permitted use, so they made a motion to move the decision to next the Council meeting.

Having it as permitted use would mean that residents in R-1 areas would be allowed to have legal, secondary suites regardless of how the neighbours in the area felt about it. As long as the suite was safe and up to code, the Town would have very little involvement in the process.

Having it as discretionary use would mean that there would be public consultation. Home owners wanting to build a secondary suite in an R-1 area would have to consult with both the Town and neighbours first.

Mayor Craig Snodgrass says at the moment, he's not sure which choice is the best one, as he can see the pros and cons to both sides.

"(Permitted use) is simpler and would make it easier for you to have a legal suite," he says. "I don't think it would get out of hand, but it could create a significant riff in some of our communities."

For discretionary use, Snodgrass says he likes how the Town would have more control over secondary suites, but worries home owners will end up building more illegal suites if they have reason to believe the Town or their neighbours won't approve.

Snodgrass says no matter what their choice is, getting rid of illegal suites is Council's main goal.

"The way it's being done right now where it comes to Council and it goes through a public hearing and three readings is a ridiculous thing to be doing because at the end of the day, the problem we have is illegal suites," he says. "So we're trying to find a way that makes it easier for people to come let us know where these suites are."

Snodgrass says it's a topic they're taking very seriously, which is why they need more time to make the final decision.

A decision will likely be made at the next Council meeting on Aug. 17.