Monday, January 15, 2024

Kelowna Bans Most Short Term Rentals

https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/467398/Kelowna-council-approves-sweeping-restrictions-on-short-term-rentals 

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

The state isn’t the saviour, they are the problem.

Anonymous said...

Nice balance job 8:06.... Do you only have one eye. At least in Kelowna they are trying. They have a split vote....They try to argue it out. Tofino has no plan. No plan to keep taxes down.....No plan to allow the public to build housing, and no real discussion. The gatekeepers exercise maximum "laisse unfair". LET THEM EAT CAKE.......They do nothing. They allow no new housing projects.

Anonymous said...

From "Castanet" press....
Similar situation as faced by Tibbs, Eik, and Cox Bay....

"Vernon's chamber of commerce says new short-term rental legislation could pose serious risks to resorts that drive North Okanagan tourism.

"We are urging the provincial government to reassess the local vacation resort communities in our area that have not been deemed exempt," says Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce president Kirndeep Nahal.

Set to take effect in May, the legislation is aimed at returning short-term rentals to the long-term market.

While Big White and Silver Star have been exempted from the legislation, others like Predator Ridge and Outback Lakeside Resort have not.

"The resort communities impacted are not close to transit and are likely not the affordable living accommodations the legislation is hoping to target," says Nahal. "These are communities built upon short-term rental models to drive tourism, which is a massive economic driver for the Okanagan, and would be threatened."

Claus Larsen, director of accommodation at Predator Ridge, says more than 300 people could be at risk of losing their jobs if the golf resort must meet the new legislation.

"We're no different than Big White or Silver Star. We're outside of town, and we're zoned for short-term rentals. The consequences if we do not get exempt would be dire," says Larsen.

Short-term rental accommodations account for more than $3 million in revenue per year at Predator.

Long-term rentals such as The District at the resort start at $4,500 per month.

"That's the type of accommodation we have at Predator Ridge. Our resort is full of million-dollar homes and condos," says Larsen. "That doesn't create affordable houses. If we're not exempted, we're going to stand empty."

The chamber has written to local MLA Harwinder Sandhu and recommends the province consult with local stakeholders to further understand unintended impacts.

It also recommends giving municipalities the right to determine and apply for exempted areas through commercial tourism zoning, and a reassessment of the Residential Tenancy Act to entice property owners to lease their homes to long-term tenants.

"We appreciate that the provincial government has recognized and is taking action to address the issue of affordable and attainable housing in our province. We understand the legislation is meant to increase the availability of long-term housing options," says Nahal.

"This intended objective is undeniably important for families to be able to sustain a basic quality of life in our province and reassure employers that they will be able to attract skilled workers to their regions. However, there are potentially negative impacts to the community that need to be addressed."

Anonymous said...

1:12 are you suggesting that the state isn't the savior, but perhaps are the problem?

Anonymous said...

This entire mess is a knee jerk reaction to the failed immigration policy. We have another 500,000 people arriving with no place to live. The government was warned two years ago that the immigration policy will drive up housing and create more inflation. The funny thing is the immigration policy was supposed to reduce inflation by getting more workers and push wages down. Try and control markets and they will control you. Maybe some of our elected officials should be required to take an economics class. For over 100 years the provincial government has let local municipalities set their own land usage regulations. Why the sudden change? I think this one will end up being settled in court and there will be no winners. There are only two solutions....build more homes and make them cheaper to build with less regulations.

Anonymous said...

or Else government build multiple apartment blocks and Barricks-like living situations for many of the immigrants and homeless people. At this point it may just become the same thing – homeless immigrants. This is one of many examples of people in governance absolutely not listening to people who know what they're talking about from experience telling them something different than what they would like to believe. What the swollen heads would like to believe is that being elected to the government gives them a certain amount of omnipotence and freedom from consequences of stupid mistakes. And here we are. Tofino is no different. water anyone?

Anonymous said...

In a 36 unit apartment building in Tofino 8 of the units are occupied by immigrants: 22.22%. Honest hard working people, good tenants, nice neighbours.

If that 22% number was extrapolated to the entire country.....
It not a personal thing, not a racist issue, not a case of "keep "em over there". It simply demonstrates that our governments are not keeping up housing supply to match their immigration quotas.

Anonymous said...

I spoke recently to a young professional person. They have a couple of jobs. After six months of being here and looking for a place to rent the best they could find was a room.....yes a room. no kitchen.... shared bath with rats and leaking roof at no additional price......She said she has just moved in as it is better than nothing......World Class Destination Resort my ass.. The people running this town have no plan.

There are the official temporary (not temporary) use zones (slums) and all the other places where trailers and campervans sit on peoples "single family zoned" lots ....more slums.

Is that the plan??? Council has stepped around this issue for what? fifteen to twenty years, and what is the plan......nothing...... more tourism? a bike lane? Place is a joke. Want to know why our taxes are amoungst the highest in the province......Council have no plan? Do they even see a problem? And those that work in the office just shuffle in and out, collect their fat paychecks to do what???? Same job as staff did twenty years ago but now there are three times as many of them with computers and degrees in public communications....
World Class pile of ....you know what.

Anonymous said...

3:08 I am not done yet...There is no housing. Really, really, high taxes. They shrink the ball field. Very limited use of the gym. Only school on the island that is so restricted. No weekend use at all...used to be full of people at ball tournaments. now....nada. Who can live here?.....and who cares. World class lack of foresight. Do they even care????? Well, the tourists get a brand new shitter at the beach...Guess that is what they care about. You living in a moldy old van, you get to pee in the woods, out of sight. I am so done with this place....Council is AWOL

Anonymous said...

I disagree with 3:08 . Where else in Canada can you put two, three or even a dozen travel trailers on a lot and get a revenue stream that will pay your mortgage , taxes and maintenance. Taxes are low as there is no assessed value on trailers. Never mind Airbnb . The real money is in being a slumlord .
What about community you ask ? Don’t be silly

Anonymous said...

You have to look at the current reality. A lot of people use VCR's as a way to live, afford being in Tofino. But you have to look at the trends as well. Unless we start a new pattern of occupation, in another twenty years, everything will be absentee VCr'S and seasonal staff housing with a few very rich folks sprinkled in. Eventually even the rich will find greener pastures as the quality of living goes into decline. Whatever happened to "sustainability" and "smart growth" or was that only virtue signaling about trees with unfettered tourism driving the bus.

Anonymous said...

10:32 Your post is dead on.

Anonymous said...

it was virtue signalling by the environmental idealists. ignoring reality, not preparing for it either. here we are. taxpayers paying the price for DOT wilful blindness. its our fault mayors ingnore local knowledge and experience as they trample our trust on the way to cushy political offices in the clouds.

Anonymous said...

For 15 years councils have permitted commercial growth. Increasing numbers of tourist accom, increasing the need for more workers.... all the while they have shut down any new rezonings for private sector housing. Is that stupid or what?. What other result can you expect but housing shortages and more money chasing less product.... inflation...and more taxes.

Anonymous said...

Councils have been preoccupied with more important matters than the realities of life in Tofino for many of it's residents. We have some very fine restaurants and a variety of festivals throughout the year. As alluded to above, we are a world class destination. Servants are necessary.

Anonymous said...

AHA!! That's the answer I've been looking for. The planning and administration of a "variety of festivals throughout the year": I knew all those people employed in the village office were there for some reason. Now I understand.

Anonymous said...

let them eat cake

Anonymous said...

Allegedly Marie Antoinette was misquoted. She is supposed to have said , "let them eat caca"

Anonymous said...

The elected elite do not like f bombs and will go out of there way to suppress their place in society. i.e. Family, food, freedom of speech, female, facts, forestry, fishing, farming, fossil fuel, future, fun, fireplaces, function etc.

Anonymous said...

caca....cake. You say potato I say say potato. Piont is Marie was prepared to shit on the common folk. And now....Same same..... c'est dommage. She lost her head. I believe it was crimes against the state. Now we have the modern plantation spreading in Tofino, housing the poor sods who work here. Where is that guillotine?













Anonymous said...

Haw Haw. to"Marie's" timely demise, but I disagree with the basic premise. Tofino Mayor and Council is more akin to a finely tuned quartet. Each playing their instruments sympathetically and in perfect harmony amid a pile of smouldering trash, as you put it..... the last vestiges of a once great place, now a phoney caca palace......Wasn't it Nero who fiddled while Rome burned.

Remember the words of Yogi Berra. It will most certainly apply to Tofno's future. Yogi said of Coney Island, a famous New York beach playground.

"It's so crowded nobody goes there anymore"

Anonymous said...

It looks like Gordo and his gang are on the wrong side of history with regards to their support of enacting the emergency act. Jagmeet is working overtime trying to spin it, but the truth is already out there. I wonder if Gordo will have the balls to speak to it, or will he hide behind the opioid crisis, or show his support of the Ukraine or Hamas instead?

Anonymous said...

You can’t really fault Gord. He was just doing as he was told. After all, he is a leader.

Anonymous said...

Gord johns is alot of things...a Leader is not one of them

Anonymous said...

having a licensed property manager dealing with bookings and customers sounds like a great idea........until you complain to him at 11:00 pm that the guests across the street are yelling and making a racket outside. he says look those folks are paying $900 per night and should be left alone; the RCMP have better things to do; DOT bylaw doesn't answer; and the owners are in s. America......nothing.......noise, racket carries on unabated. residents don't sleep. Because somebody who doesn't live here is making a lot of money and to hell with the people who do....great situation!

Anonymous said...

What is the status of council deciding on which avenue they are taking toward STR as of yet?

Ralph Tieleman said...

It is being studied

tofinomike said...

https://www.westerlynews.ca/news/ucluelet-wont-rush-to-opt-in-to-vacation-rental-legislation-7326976