Whitewater Township held a recent open house on a “Comprehensive zoning bylaw update”.
This is an attempt to standardize all bylaws across the Township. The public has until May 31 to provide any input on this issue. Included in this comprehensive bylaw is a clause on the subject of short term accommodations or STA‘s, sometimes referred to as STR’s ,short term rentals .
When this comprehensive bylaw is passed, council then can address the subject of short term accommodations .
To this fact, some preliminary work has been done in the form of a proposed draft by law .This document was sent to Council who have deferred this until October allowing for further discussion and public input.
According to this new proposed draft bylaw , there are 66 Airbnbs known to be operating in Whitewater Township presently. Certainly there is an opportunity here for income for the Township through registration of these STAs, although a new additional level of bureaucracy would have to be added in terms of registration, inspection and bylaw enforcement. There is the suggestion of caping the number of STAs at 200.
There have been some alarming examples of the problems that can occur with these STAs. These significant problems essentially revolve around excessive noise, loud music, parking issues , garbage what is a lack of respect for existing local residents.
Unless dealt with, this situation has the potential to get out of hand and completely change our community negatively in the future. Some of these properties or ghost hotels they are called, are run by absentee landlords and also by Companies.
We have wonderful community here and a great place to live We have many associations and organizations and in general a helping caring community.
There are numerous articles that have illustrated the issues that can occur with these STA’s. A CBC, April 10 column by Colin Butler mentions that “communities are fed up with beach towns bought up by investors and overrun by partiers”. The mayor of the Lakeside towns of Sauble, Red bay, and Mallory states that…”this is going to erode the fabric of our community”. Some BC communities have banned STAs in certain areas.
Here, we have lost stores, restaurants, a school and a bank. We must not lose our communities.
There is another open house on this Comprehensive zoning bylaw which will be held at the Westmeath Hall on May 11 from 4 PM to 7 PM.
We strongly encourage all of those who are concerned about this situation to come and voice their opinions on STAs, as there will be representatives from the Township represent.
Hope to see you there.
From: John @ Rose Meadows, Stephen Bennett, Catherine Timm, Doug Lapointe, D’Arcy @ Janice McMullen and concerned residents of Whitewater Township
