This is why nobody takes the war on vacation rentals seriously.It is just a diversion. Poole's good Crab campground good Meares campground good Ecolodge good Vacation rentals bad
The P1A zoning prohibits this use of the property. Council and staff have been aware of this issue for years. They choose to ignore it. I was told by staff and council that until somebody filed a formal complaint with bylaw that they would ignore this issue.
Red Crow guest house at 1064 Pacific Rim Hwy is assessed at $1,983,000. It is a five acre waterfront property with a large house built in 1991. No restaurant or tourist attraction.
Date File Opened: 21Jun2017 Style of Cause: TOFINO VACATION RENTALS INC. v CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF TOFINO Location: Victoria Law Courts Level of Court: Supreme Class of Court: Supreme Civil (General) Initiating Document(s): Petition
Hearing Date: 23Oct2017
Hearing Time: 10:00 AM Hearing Location: Victoria Law Courts List Type for the Hearing: Supreme Court Civil List
While some enterprises are allowed to operate freely ,regardless of zoning, others are not.
not to mention the almost free staffing they get from unsuspecting international or otherwise WOOFers. they work 25 hrs a week for a place to stay in a shared plywood abode with barely a kitchen and plywood floors. Plus they get to share this space as they sleep in bunkbeds. I am pretty sure they did not get fed either. So if you value their labour at minimum wage roughly, they are paying $250 a week for a substandard living arrangement. I make sure I never spend any money at the gardens. lantern festival? sneak in. Gardens? check them out in the off hours. small disclaimer: I am not 100 percent sure they still do this but they sure did for a long time. At least poo lettuce farm near the junction takes his woofers surfing and feeds them.
oh yeah. WOOFing is supposed to be an educational experience. SOme of the woofers were working in the cafe i guess you learned how to work at starbucks. sounds like going to university..
It would be interesting to look at the assessments for crabapple commercial Campground & pooland commercial Campground to understand how the taxpayer foots the bill for the operators of these places to put money in their pockets. while the zoned properties operating commercially pay a large tax bill. this shit stinks.
This is "progressive" scamming at it's finest. All the high falutin baffle gab that George spouts. This is just a criminal operation. Council is the enabler.
Surely there are whistle blower protections for some staff person to just be honest and do the job.....
Interesting how these council folk have their finger stuck so far into the pie and yet continue to reject all the significant development proposals... Guess the status quo suits them just fine.....Corruption at it's finest...
It's not corruption. It was done in plain site before there was any association with the municipal government.Like South Chesterman's being rented short term in contravention of zoning,it was simply allowed to continue. When one of the operators became mayor it was a bit more problematic.
From the Globe and Mail : JANUARY 11, 2013 An order from B.C.'s community minister has voided the need for a mayoral by-election in the Vancouver Island community of Tofino, where one of two candidates had dropped out of the race.
As a result, Josie Osborne has been acclaimed mayor, and Tofino will save the estimated $10,000 to $12,000 cost of holding a by-election.
In a statement, the District of Tofino noted on Friday that it has received the ministerial orders under the Local Government Act.
The orders were required because pharmacist George Smith dropped out of the race less than 29 days before the Jan. 26 vote, and the act would have forced the community to proceed with it.
Mr. Smith said he dropped out of the race for "personal reasons." That left Ms. Osborne, a former fisheries biologist who now runs the Tofino Botanical Gardens, as the only candidate.
The by-election was called after Perry Schmunk stepped down as mayor late last year to take a job in Vancouver.
Ms. Osborne said she was pleased with Friday's development, and will likely be sworn in as Tofino's new mayor on Tuesday.
"I can't wait to get started," she said, adding that she was thankful the city will not have to spend on an unnecessary by-election. "It's not just the amount of money but the principle of using the money," she said.
In June of 2012 , mayor Perry Schmunk was criticized for the installation of a beach front sign at the hotel he was running.It was a clear violation of zoning and was dealt with. People did not hesitate to file formal complaints. The sign was in their faces and the hotel had a history of friction with many local residents. Poole's has been allowed to operate in contravention of bylaws for decades. If Poole became mayor would anything change ? I doubt it. Bylaw enforcement seems to be somewhat dependent on one's standing in the popularity contest.Selective prosecution is the end result of a complaint based bylaw system.
Ralphie, it is corruption. As you say, bylaws selectively enforced, based on personal or political bias and influence. No money has changed hands, as far as we know, but the ability to run an illegal business is tolerated, when it is one of their own. It is definitely corruption of the purpose and intent of municipal government. Council feels they have the authority to pick and choose which of our laws they will enforce and when and against who, they will enforce them.....That is corruption of their oath of office. It is what happens in dictatorships when the rule of law is manipulated for personal and political objectives. I think we are in agreement here, I am simply pointing out the process does not have to be clandestine.. This is simply flagrant and willful blindness..... These issues have been raised for a few years.
How did TBG ever get that tax free status. as well as all this other BS. I will tell you how. Georgie Porgie had influence with the greenies who were on council.. There are two options.....Corruption or stupidity. In this case, one and the same. Anyway "Georgie Porgie, puddin and pie, he stuck in his thumb and pulled out a plum, and said what a good boy am I"
Some people are just shameless. And talk about privilege. They know what they are doing is illegal, and just don't give a bleep. And this is our Mayor. Her Worship Ha! Ha! Crooked Josie.
The Westerly can not be relied upon on tough issues...They show an abiding deference to Gov't, over the word of citizens. Of course all they have to do is just look at the bylaw and see for themselves.
I find it interesting that the camp ground at Crabapple is compared to Pooles land. Crabapple went through the hoops for temporary rezoning,put in water sewer ,and put in washrooms and showers. In 20 years Pooles land has never done this. Not a fair comparison.
Greenwashing (a compound word modelled on "whitewash"), or "green sheen", is a form of spin in which green PR or green marketing is deceptively used to promote the perception that an organization's products, aims or policies are environmentally friendly.
So this is exempt from bylaws ?
ReplyDeleteThey can't make money running it as a gardens so they run it like a hotel. I now see the tiny houses popping up.... the Mayor is a hypocrite
ReplyDeleteThis is why nobody takes the war on vacation rentals seriously.It is just a diversion.
ReplyDeletePoole's good
Crab campground good
Meares campground good
Ecolodge good
Vacation rentals bad
How can this be? Does anybody have an explanation?
ReplyDeleteThe P1A zoning prohibits this use of the property. Council and staff have been aware of this issue for years. They choose to ignore it. I was told by staff and council that until somebody filed a formal complaint with bylaw that they would ignore this issue.
DeleteRed Crow guest house at 1064 Pacific Rim Hwy is assessed at $1,983,000. It is a five acre waterfront property with a large house built in 1991. No restaurant or tourist attraction.
ReplyDeleteIt should be also noted that for years Botanical Gardens operated as a tax free non profit.
ReplyDeleteDate File Opened: 21Jun2017
ReplyDeleteStyle of Cause: TOFINO VACATION RENTALS INC. v CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF TOFINO
Location: Victoria Law Courts
Level of Court: Supreme
Class of Court: Supreme Civil (General)
Initiating Document(s): Petition
Hearing Date: 23Oct2017
Hearing Time: 10:00 AM
Hearing Location: Victoria Law Courts
List Type for the Hearing: Supreme Court Civil List
While some enterprises are allowed to operate freely ,regardless of zoning, others are not.
not to mention the almost free staffing they get from unsuspecting international or otherwise WOOFers. they work 25 hrs a week for a place to stay in a shared plywood abode with barely a kitchen and plywood floors. Plus they get to share this space as they sleep in bunkbeds. I am pretty sure they did not get fed either. So if you value their labour at minimum wage roughly, they are paying $250 a week for a substandard living arrangement. I make sure I never spend any money at the gardens. lantern festival? sneak in. Gardens? check them out in the off hours. small disclaimer: I am not 100 percent sure they still do this but they sure did for a long time. At least poo lettuce farm near the junction takes his woofers surfing and feeds them.
ReplyDeleteHey Anon 2:57 - It's "Living Wage" now - recalculate!
ReplyDeleteHow did they get a business licence ? The bylaw is supposed to check zoning before a licence is issued.Something not right here.
ReplyDeleteoh yeah. WOOFing is supposed to be an educational experience. SOme of the woofers were working in the cafe i guess you learned how to work at starbucks. sounds like going to university..
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to look at the assessments for crabapple commercial Campground & pooland commercial Campground to understand how the taxpayer foots the bill for the operators of these places to put money in their pockets.
ReplyDeletewhile the zoned properties operating commercially pay a large tax bill. this shit stinks.
@ 3.31
ReplyDeleteThe Director of Financial Services is supposed to report properties like the Crab campground and the Botanical Gardens to BC ASSESSMENT.
:wink:
I don't think you can realistically think that anyone on staff will go against their boss.This is why this situation is so intolerable.
ReplyDeleteThis is "progressive" scamming at it's finest. All the high falutin baffle gab that George spouts. This is just a criminal operation. Council is the enabler.
ReplyDeleteSurely there are whistle blower protections for some staff person to just be honest and do the job.....
Interesting how these council folk have their finger stuck so far into the pie and yet continue to reject all the significant development proposals... Guess the status quo suits them just fine.....Corruption at it's finest...
It's not corruption. It was done in plain site before there was any association with the municipal government.Like South Chesterman's being rented short term in contravention of zoning,it was simply allowed to continue.
ReplyDeleteWhen one of the operators became mayor it was a bit more problematic.
From the Globe and Mail :
DeleteJANUARY 11, 2013
An order from B.C.'s community minister has voided the need for a mayoral by-election in the Vancouver Island community of Tofino, where one of two candidates had dropped out of the race.
As a result, Josie Osborne has been acclaimed mayor, and Tofino will save the estimated $10,000 to $12,000 cost of holding a by-election.
In a statement, the District of Tofino noted on Friday that it has received the ministerial orders under the Local Government Act.
The orders were required because pharmacist George Smith dropped out of the race less than 29 days before the Jan. 26 vote, and the act would have forced the community to proceed with it.
Mr. Smith said he dropped out of the race for "personal reasons." That left Ms. Osborne, a former fisheries biologist who now runs the Tofino Botanical Gardens, as the only candidate.
The by-election was called after Perry Schmunk stepped down as mayor late last year to take a job in Vancouver.
Ms. Osborne said she was pleased with Friday's development, and will likely be sworn in as Tofino's new mayor on Tuesday.
"I can't wait to get started," she said, adding that she was thankful the city will not have to spend on an unnecessary by-election. "It's not just the amount of money but the principle of using the money," she said.
In June of 2012 , mayor Perry Schmunk was criticized for the installation of a beach front sign at the hotel he was running.It was a clear violation of zoning and was dealt with. People did not hesitate to file formal complaints. The sign was in their faces and the hotel had a history of friction with many local residents.
ReplyDeletePoole's has been allowed to operate in contravention of bylaws for decades. If Poole became mayor would anything change ? I doubt it.
Bylaw enforcement seems to be somewhat dependent on one's standing in the popularity contest.Selective prosecution is the end result of a complaint based bylaw system.
Ralphie, it is corruption. As you say, bylaws selectively enforced, based on personal or political bias and influence. No money has changed hands, as far as we know, but the ability to run an illegal business is tolerated, when it is one of their own. It is definitely corruption of the purpose and intent of municipal government. Council feels they have the authority to pick and choose which of our laws they will enforce and when and against who, they will enforce them.....That is corruption of their oath of office. It is what happens in dictatorships when the rule of law is manipulated for personal and political objectives. I think we are in agreement here, I am simply pointing out the process does not have to be clandestine.. This is simply flagrant and willful blindness..... These issues have been raised for a few years.
ReplyDeleteThe local print media has also chosen to turn a blind eye to this story.
DeleteHow did TBG ever get that tax free status. as well as all this other BS. I will tell you how. Georgie Porgie had influence with the greenies who were on council.. There are two options.....Corruption or stupidity. In this case, one and the same. Anyway "Georgie Porgie, puddin and pie, he stuck in his thumb and pulled out a plum, and said what a good boy am I"
ReplyDeleteBe careful of wolves in green clothing
ReplyDeleteIf the local print media turns it's eye then would someone PLEASE take this to social media !!!
ReplyDeleteThis is total BS of the highest degree !
35A 2 Conditions of Use. part 2.."shall not be used for tourist commercial accommodations"
ReplyDeleteSome people are just shameless. And talk about privilege. They know what they are doing is illegal, and just don't give a bleep. And this is our Mayor. Her Worship Ha! Ha! Crooked Josie.
ReplyDeleteThe Westerly can not be relied upon on tough issues...They show an abiding deference to Gov't, over the word of citizens. Of course all they have to do is just look at the bylaw and see for themselves.
ReplyDeleteI guess the P1A zoning gives them some relief from commercial taxes....scammers!
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that the camp ground at Crabapple is compared to Pooles land. Crabapple went through the hoops for temporary rezoning,put in water sewer ,and put in washrooms and showers. In 20 years Pooles land has never done this. Not a fair comparison.
ReplyDeletePoole's did get a temporary use permit for campground many years ago. However,I agree not a fair comparison.
ReplyDeleteEcoli-lodge.
ReplyDeleteGreenwashing (a compound word modelled on "whitewash"), or "green sheen", is a form of spin in which green PR or green marketing is deceptively used to promote the perception that an organization's products, aims or policies are environmentally friendly.
Is is just me... or do you smell poo???