Whitestone council is opening up the floor to community input for its draft short-term rental bylaw after members provided comments and insight at the Tuesday, May 21 meeting.
Through a memorandum report, clerk and CEO Michelle Hendry presented the current draft of the short-term rental bylaw to council and outlined its limitations. According to the report, the municipality has issued 22 short-term rental licences under the current bylaw.
“Short-term rentals are a tricky sort of thing — we don’t have a lot of compliance right now … I would put that there are 150 or 170 (short-term rentals in the municipality). There are a lot of people who have the same people coming back every year and don’t advertise or need to advertise,” said Coun. Joe Lamb.
Council members agreed the draft bylaw was on track but they would like some additions. Coun. Brian Woods voiced concern with multiple cars parking on private roads and septic systems.
Woods added that the demerit point system in the draft should also be reviewed as the fines can be very high for certain infractions — such as not responding to a property-related concern within 60 minutes, which would mean a $1,500 fine.
While not modifying the draft bylaw, council provided insights and directed staff to schedule a hybrid public consultation meeting regarding the bylaw update.