Editor:
It is widely known that there is a housing crisis on the Coast. People of all ages including families cannot find rental accommodation. Many are being told to buy camping gear and stay in parks. This is not a crisis; it is a disaster. What used to be long-term rental accommodations are now short-term rentals (STRs). I was pleased to see recently in the paper that at least one community-minded person converted their STR back into long term because of this crisis. We cannot however rely on all individuals to voluntarily be community minded.
An STR is a motel and motels belong in properly zoned areas of a community. People in general elect to live in residentially zoned areas to get a respite from commercial enterprises. Allowing STRs to flourish in residential areas is short-sighted. Doing so will make it impossible for anyone to prove in a business case the investment in a hotel, motel or resort accommodation on the Coast. The Chamber of Commerce should be opposing STRs. If there is a demand for tourist accommodation, let the market work as it always does, and business investment will fill that gap. Gibsons and Sechelt councils as well as the regional district should stop all this nonsense and not allow STRs in residential neighbourhoods. If a home has a currently legal suite, only allow it to be rented on a long-term basis.
Blake Cyr, Sechelt
