Parksville will need to achieve a three per cent vacancy rate in order to be eligible for a partial exemption from the provinceB次元官网网址檚 Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, according to a letter from the housing minister.

Ravi KahlonB次元官网网址檚 letter was in reply to a request from the cityB次元官网网址檚 mayor and council that ParksvilleB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渞esort rowB次元官网网址� area be granted an exemption from the act, which comes into effect May 1.

B次元官网网址淵our community must demonstrate a healthy vacancy rate of at least three per cent for two consecutive years,B次元官网网址� the ministerB次元官网网址檚 letter said.

The Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act will include a principal residence requirement that limits short-term rentals in communities over 10,000 to a hostB次元官网网址檚 principal residence plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit.

Council members expressed frustration with the vacancy requirement during a Feb. 5 meeting.

B次元官网网址淚n the last 20, 25 years have we ever seen a three per cent vacancy rate in Parksville? Very unrealistic,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Amit Gaur.

Mayor Doug OB次元官网网址橞rienB次元官网网址檚 letter to Kahlon said a partial exemption is justified for several reasons, including that the mentioned areas were purpose-built for short-term rentals, with infrastructure designed for temporary and seasonal tourism uses.

The letter also pointed out the cityB次元官网网址檚 economy depends heavily on the tourism industry, which needs short-term visitor accommodations.

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During the meeting, OB次元官网网址橞rien said it will be difficult to achieve the three per cent vacancy rate with so many people moving into the area, even with all the housing construction projects underway.

B次元官网网址淔ar more on the books. And as fast as we can build it, thereB次元官网网址檚 lineups for them to come in and live here in Parksville,B次元官网网址� he said, and added he is happy more people want to live in the community.

Lots of people travel from the prairie provinces to stay in Parksville during the winter, OB次元官网网址橞rien said, which provides an economic boost and jobs during the off season.

B次元官网网址淭hese are peopleB次元官网网址檚 jobs we are talking about here,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd if these are eliminated and put into what they suspect to be a full time rental situation those jobs will be lost.B次元官网网址�

Coun. Joel Grenz said many people have expressed they feel there has been a B次元官网网址渂ait and switchB次元官网网址�, with B次元官网网址渟trict structures around the type of housing that theyB次元官网网址檙e actually requesting, which is short term rentalsB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渢he switch is when the province takes that away from the municipalities, to be able to allow for that kind of housing.B次元官网网址�

OB次元官网网址橞rien said he hopes to speak with Kahlon at the UBCM housing summit scheduled for Feb. 13 and Feb. 14.