Editor:
Important decisions are about to be made in Sechelt that will map the future look and feel of our neighborhoods into the distant future through new short-term rental (STR) regulations. The future supply of long-term rental stock, the ability to enjoy the use of your property in peace, and fairness to the local motel and resort business, all hang on these decisions.
The current model of regulation has led to only 38 per cent of local operators having licences, with the majority flagrantly flouting the few regulations that we do now have in an exploding STR market. The more permissive the new regulations are, the more the stresses on our neighborhoods will be felt. Loud noise often into the nights, improperly stored garbage, parking problems, speeding drivers not familiar with our streets and clusters of unwanted boutique mini hotels popping up in inappropriate spaces, all ratchet up the problems.
Most people polled to date have spoken strongly for the owner-occupied models that Vancouver, Whistler, Squamish and other communities have successfully adopted. This requirement should be an absolute minimum of what is enacted in Sechelt.
Despite recent priority change statements by council about concern for long-term housing, my greatest fear for these choices is that our current council by nature will lean to a more permissive rather than a more restrictive outcome.
The temptation for them to side with successful local STR operators at the expense of our neighborhoods will be significant, it will be their default position.
For those who want a more regulated approach, a full court press will be needed so as to bring this win to Sechelt and even to our council. Please let your voice be heard by filling out the soon to be published survey of residents.
Neil Edmunds, Sechelt
