ISLAND UNDER THREAT: THE VACATION RENTAL INDUSTRY

BACKGROUND: Commercial Vacation Rentals (houses rented for under 30 days) have been proliferating on the island due to the enormous profits that can be made (check out the web for rents such as $1500. a week and more! Plus they pay residential taxes.) Some advertise capacities for large groups such as 8-10 or even 14-17. There is concern that overloads on septic systems might lead to the contamination of ground water and nearby surface water.

Many of these houses are never occupied by owners and advertise year-round availability, have toll-free telephone numbers, and take credit cards. These houses are not available for rent by Salt Spring residents seeking to live here full-time.

ASTAR, the lobby group for vacation rentals, (it costs 100. dollars to join! ) has worked hard to "spin" this issue, saying there is no impact on permanent rental housing.

WHAT IS OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM?

Last year, our Islands Trust representatives, Eric Booth and Kimberly Linegar, declared a moratorium on the enforcement of the Official Community Plan (OCP) prohibition against vacation rentals. They said they wanted to know more about the issue. Therefore they created a subcommittee to research vacation rentals and then report to the Advisory Planning Commission (APC). The vacation rental industry was well-represented on the subcommittee (Arlene Dashwood, ASTAR, Blair Howard, West Coast Vacations, etc).

People from neighbourhood groups and individuals made presentations to the subcommittee, attended most meetings of the subcommittee, wrote letters, emails and made petitions to ask for protection from the vacation rental industry.

Finally, the subcommittee come up with a report that was handed on to the APC.

Again, many people then worked to express the concern of the community about the commercial vacation industry's threat to our neighbourhoods, volunteer-run organizations, and our water.

Having a home is a basic need and many are forced to leave the island due to the housing crunch.

What about the children who have to leave their friends and schools due to a lack of housing here. And what about the desperate measure proposed for schools that may soon operate only 4 days a week? What about farmers who can't get help because young people can't afford to live here?

Finally, the APC has recommended that our OCP should be upheld in relation to the prohibition against commercial vacation rentals (hard copy available at the Island Trust office.)

They also have recommended that permanent residents who go on holiday elsewhere be allowed to rent their homes to vacationers.

BUT!

THIS MONTH:

When the APC report was presented to our Local Trust Committee, a staff report prepared by John Gauld, our planner, was also presented stating that we can permit the commercial vacation rental of island houses perhaps by issuing "Temporary Use Permits" (TUPs). YET, using temporary use permits or changing the OCP to accommodate the VR industry turns much-needed housing into a tourist commodity.

Eric and Kimberly are now studying the planner's document.

NOW:

OUR TRUSTEES, ERIC BOOTH AND KIMBERLY LINEGER, ELECTED TO REPRESENT US, NEED TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT OUR ISLAND BY RESPECTING THE ADVICE OF THE APC AND THE COMMUNITY.

IF COMMERCIAL VACATION RENTALS ARE ALLOWED IT WILL MEAN THEY WILL INCREASE IN NUMBER AND WILL BE PART OF THE 400 PLUS RESIDENCES THAT ARE GOING TO BE BUILT IN CHANNEL RIDGE. CHANNEL RIDGE IS WAITING FOR THIS DECISION.

KIMBERLY AND ERIC SEEMED TO INDICATE THEY WOULD DECIDE ON THE VACATION RENTAL ISSUE THIS MONTH.

AT THE LAST MEETING KIMBERLY SAID THAT 20 PRO-VACATION RENTAL PEOPLE HAD CALLED HER THAT MORNING!

WE, WHO WISH TO PROTECT THE ISLAND AND ITS PEOPLE FROM COMMERCIALIZATION, NEED TO MAKE OUR VIEWS KNOWN TO THE 3 PEOPLE WHO NOW CAN VOTE ON THIS ISSUE: KIMBERLY LINEGER, ERIC BOOTH AND, DAVID ESSIG. PLEASE PHONE, WRITE, FAX, OR EMAIL EXPRESSING YOUR VIEWS.

Kimberly and Eric at Islands Trust: (tel) 537-9144

(Fax) 537-9116

mailto:ebooth@islandstrust.bc.ca

mailto:klineger@islandstrust.bc.ca

David Essig at Islands Trust (Victoria office) 1-250-405-5151

(Fax) 1-250-405-5156

mailto:dessig@islandstrust.bc.ca

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 Beddis and Cusheon Lake Residents Association