Parksville has requested an exemption to the provincial governmentB次元官网网址檚 Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act for several of the cityB次元官网网址檚 land-use designations.
Mayor Doug OB次元官网网址橞rien wrote a letter to Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin and Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon asking for the exemption in certain areas of the city.
B次元官网网址淭he request for exemption is for purpose-built vacation homes, or rentals that are in the area and weB次元官网网址檝e identified it to the minister,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址橞rien said during councilB次元官网网址檚 Dec. 18 meeting. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e certainly not against the main proponent of the STR (short-term rentals) accommodations act.B次元官网网址�
The letter asks the province to allow short-term rentals in units that are not an ownerB次元官网网址檚 principal residence in several Parksville land-use designations that include Resort Lands, Tourist Commercial, Downtown Waterfront and Restricted Recreation.
The legislation was tabled by the BC NDP on Oct. 15, but key parts of it wonB次元官网网址檛 come into effect until May 1.
It defines short-term rentals as any accommodation provided to the public for less than 90 consecutive days; establishes registries for both hosts and platforms like Airbnb, and an enforcement unit; toughens penalties for violators; and limits short-term rentals to principal residences and one additional unit per property.
OB次元官网网址橞rienB次元官网网址檚 letter says the exemption is justifiable based on three factors.
B次元官网网址淔irstly, the areas in question were never intended for long-term residential purposes and as a result, infrastructure was designed for temporary and seasonal tourism uses,B次元官网网址� the letter says.
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He added ParksvilleB次元官网网址檚 economy depends heavily on the tourism industry, which needs the areas for short-term visitor accommodations.
B次元官网网址淔inally Parksville has already constructed enough residential units to satisfy observed historic and projected growth until 2026,B次元官网网址� the letter says.
OB次元官网网址橞rien continued in the letter that the mentioned OCP designations were never intended for long-term residents.
B次元官网网址淭his request is not an attempt to evade responsibility for ensuring a healthy housing market,B次元官网网址� the letter says. B次元官网网址淏ut rather a request that the Province recognize our communityB次元官网网址檚 unique and varied accommodation needs.B次元官网网址�
He also cited data from the Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association that estimated 1,160,400 people visited the region in 2019 and contributed an estimated $190 million to the local economy.
-with a file from Wolf Depner
