Every morning, Teresa Petrini follows the same routine.
She wakes up, gets ready, hops in her car and makes the commute from her home in Colwood, driving through Esquimalt Lagoon and onto the highway to get to her office in downtown Victoria. But within the last few months, PetriniB次元官网网址檚 noticed a troubling trend.
Almost every day she sees a handful of recreational vehicles parked at Esquimalt Lagoon that have clearly been there overnight B次元官网网址� despite signs saying overnight parking is not permitted between 1 and 6 a.m.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just gotten out of control. You can tell theyB次元官网网址檝e been there overnight because of course the weather has changed so thereB次元官网网址檚 condensation on the windows, which means theyB次元官网网址檝e been sitting there for several hours already,B次元官网网址� said Petrini, adding she usually sees about five to six vehicles, and one morning recently she counted as many as nine.
B次元官网网址淚 just donB次元官网网址檛 think this is the best place for these people to be parking. ItB次元官网网址檚 a public beach. ItB次元官网网址檚 not meant for camping.B次元官网网址�
Petrini, who takes her kids and dogs to play at the beach, said sheB次元官网网址檚 seen people urinating outside their RVs and is concerned for the environment around the lagoon, which is a migratory bird sanctuary.
Petrini isnB次元官网网址檛 actually sure why there are so many campers there, but believes it has become worse since Walmart closed its parking lot on Langford Parkway to overnight campers.
While she acknowledged there is a housing crisis in the Capital Region that may force some to sleep in RVs, she said there is a time and a place for such activities.
Having worked a few blocks away from the infamous Tent City on the lawns of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 courthouse, Petrini was all too familiar with the problems that arose, including thefts and things such as condoms, empty wine bottles and needles found on neighboursB次元官网网址� properties, and is concerned a similar problem may happen in Colwood if nothing is done to prevent people from parking their RVs overnight.
B次元官网网址淚 would hate for the same thing to happen in our community,B次元官网网址� Petrini said, noting she would prefer to see the RVs use one of the many campsites available in the region. B次元官网网址淭hey need to be pointed in the direction or a place where they can park. I just donB次元官网网址檛 think our waterfront is that place.B次元官网网址�
Colwood Mayor Carol Hamilton said the City is aware of the issue and already has plans to improve signage in the area, specifically posting larger signs near the public washrooms and on garbage bins. In the past, bylaw officers have informed parked RVs that overnight camping is not permitted and they have complied.
B次元官网网址淚f it presents as a problem, then weB次元官网网址檙e going to have to address it,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a lovely place and the last thing we want is for it to become used in a way thatB次元官网网址檚 detrimental overall to the community.B次元官网网址�
The fine for overnight camping is $50. So far this summer, bylaw officers have not issued any tickets for this particular infraction.
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