Lakeland council passes camper bylaw change

“For instance if your grandkids come or your family members want to spend a night or two in grandpa’s trailer, our bylaw today says they can’t do that,” Plessl said.

During their meeting in March, council decided two was too many, and made the revision.

“A lot of people we acknowledge are doing it now so this will legitimize those uses,” Knuttila said.

The opposition

A public hearing was held last week, and two written submissions opposed to the bylaw change, as well as 10 people attending the meeting (council and staff). Both letters of concerns came from residents in the Bell’s Beach area. One man argued he lives in a residential area, not a trailer park.

“In the district, we have several trailer parks for the public to use, if needed,” he wrote.

The other couple expressed their concern that the bylaw change will bring many people into the Lakeland area that creates services that ratepayers will have to pay for.

“Being able to park a camper on your property for five months free of charge and used as accommodations should have to pay taxes on these campers/RVs,” they said.

In addition to other concerns related to more people coming to the area, and the potential spread of COVID, the couple also expressed their concern about the potential impact on campgrounds.

“This proposed bylaw will take a lot of business away from our local campgrounds which seems unfair when most only operate generating income for five months out of each year,” they said.

Under the terms of the bylaw change, which takes effect May 15, the campers cannot be untidy or in unsightly condition, and the municipality would ultimately reserve the right to have the camper removed from the property.

The recreational vehicle also cannot be rented out or occupied by the owner while the principle building is being rented. No one can occupy a recreational vehicle from October 16 to May 14 of each calendar year.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

Lakeland council passes camper bylaw change

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