A West 麻豆精选 resident has delivered a petition signed by 130 households urging city council not to allow short-term rentals in a residential zone that currently bans them.
At council鈥檚 Aug. 26 meeting, Tina Clarke said neighbours are deeply concerned about a proposed zoning amendment that would permit short-term rentals in RC3 neighbourhoods 鈥� areas largely made up of single-family homes. The change would apply only to secondary suites where the property owner also lives on site.
鈥淚鈥檓 urging council to look at present and future consequences to this amendment, especially the unintended consequences,鈥� Clarke told council.
She pointed to a previous council meeting where staff noted that if the change is approved.
鈥淐onverting nearly 500 homes risks changing the very fabric of our neighbourhood,鈥� she said, adding that the city may not be able to keep up with enforcement. 鈥淓nforcement is complaint-driven, meaning neighbours will police their own streets, and this erodes community goodwill.鈥�
Clarke also raised questions about whether tenants living in legal secondary suites could be displaced if landlords choose to switch to short-term rentals. She warned of possible increases in noise, parking issues, property damage, and trespassing.
鈥淭hroughout this presentation, I鈥檝e said we, and I鈥檝e said us because it鈥檚 not just me. It鈥檚 our whole community,鈥� Clarke said. 鈥淲e would like you to consider the consequences of this amendment very carefully, especially the unintended consequences, and protect the neighbourhoods we鈥檝e invested in for community and stability.鈥�
Coun. Jason Friesen welcomed the petition.
鈥淚nterestingly enough, prior to this, we only heard of those who wanted it,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd now we鈥檙e hearing a large voice for those who are not looking forward to this type of change.鈥�
He asked staff how bylaw officers could enforce rules when property owners attempt to skirt them.
鈥淚 heard a story this week of one neighbour, when they do rent it out (STR), they鈥檙e not there. They鈥檙e not abiding by the bylaw. But they鈥檝e told everybody that鈥檚 there, just say you鈥檙e my friend.鈥�
He also questioned whether long term tenants in secondary suites could be displaced, though staff clarified the Residential Tenancy Act prevents landlords from evicting renters to set up short-term rentals.
Coun. Garrett Millsap worried about the impact on people living in duplexes.
鈥淚鈥檇 have a major concern with that if now you鈥檙e living on the other side of it, and your neighbour beside you decides, hey, I鈥檓 having a short-term rental. You鈥檙e now sharing a wall with a short-term rental in your basement.鈥�
Coun. Rick de Jong supported moving the proposal to a public hearing after the first reading of the bylaw, instead of the usual practice of waiting until second reading.
鈥淲e鈥檙e sending a much stronger support of this motion,鈥� he said.
Mayor Gord Milsom said he also looked forward to hearing more from residents.
鈥淭here鈥檒l be perhaps some additional issues that are brought up at a public hearing that will help us make our decision going forward.鈥�
Council voted unanimously to give first reading to the bylaw amendment and send it to a public hearing at a later date.
