Dear Mayor Milne:
Yes, the local economy appears to be quite healthy as you pointed out in your “Mayor’s Message” the other week. This is primarily a result of the influx of summer residents and tourists, as well as the proximity to Vancouver and it being one of the last affordable places to buy a house.
On your topic of having the best interests of the community in mind when managing development and land use, I would like to know what your intentions are with regard to regulating the increasing instances of “hotels” in our local neighbourhoods? By this I am referring to investment properties being purchased for short-term rentals whereby there is no owner living on the premises, only a steady stream of hotel guests and cleaning staff disrupting quiet neighbourhoods. One only has to look online (VRBO, Airbnb) to see the staggering number of short-term rentals – the majority of which I suspect are not even licensed or operating with the proper insurance coverage, etc. Hotels are required to follow all kinds of regulations within designated zoning, so what gives?
It speaks to another level of greed infiltrating our community, especially when there is such a long-term rental crisis for people who are trying to live and work on the Sunshine Coast. I believe there is a place for well-managed bed and breakfasts in our neighbourhoods, however, not empty houses being run as hotels.
Are you and your council aware of this growing problem, and if so, what are your plans to address it?
Jennifer Burgess, Sechelt
