Editor:
Re: “Councillors eye short-term rental bylaw by year’s end,” April 16.
Our association’s directors cautiously applaud Sechelt’s action in starting to address the problems generated by short-term rentals in Sechelt.
However, the directors feel that Sechelt has been far too hesitant in taking active steps to deal with the short-term rental problem. Our association has been lobbying Sechelt council since 2017 on the need for establishing a bylaw. To no avail.
We were told that Sechelt was waiting for the SCRD to develop a bylaw so that Sechelt could use their bylaw as a template. Now that the SCRD does have an STR bylaw, what is the holdup? It has been suggested that you want to have the bylaw in place by the end of 2021 but now need to hire an outside consultant and get more public feedback.
Why do we need more study?
Extensive consultation has already been conducted. More “conversation” merely kicks the issue down the road. This lack of progress merely highlights Sunshine Coast governments’ weakness where each entity feels it needs to reinvent the wheel. No wonder our taxes are so high. We don’t need mini-hotels in residential areas. We don’t need another season of mayhem in our communities. Please, let’s get on with it.
Geoff White, President,
On Behalf of the Directors,
East Porpoise Bay Community Association
