A last-minute effort to exclude principal residences from Âé¶čAVâs short-term rental bylaw came up short for Coun. Gord Lovegrove.
Council adopted the bylaw at its Jan. 22 regular meeting, but not before Lovegrove attempted to make an amendment motion.
âI move an amendment to exclude principal residences from this bylaw to put it in alignment with the provincial governmentâs legislation,â he said.
The legislation restricts short-term rental to principal residences and either a secondary suite or an accessory dwelling unit.
Âé¶čAVâs bylaw bans short-term rentals as a principal or secondary use in mixed-use and residential zones with a few exceptions.
Council voted 4-3 in favour of moving ahead with the bylaw at its Jan. 16 regular meeting.
A public hearing on the short-term rental issue was held on Nov. 21, 2023.
âAs the public hearing is now closed the local government act puts quite strict requirements as to what council and cannot do for an amendment,â explained Stephen Flemming, city clerk.
Lovegrove and councillors Charlie Hodge and Ron Cannan voted against adopting the bylaw.
Mayor Tom Dyas and councillors Luke Stack, Rick Webber and Mohini Singh voted in favour.
Councillors Loyal Wooldridge and Maxine DeHart recused themselves from the discussion and vote citing conflicts of interest.
Wooldridge holds a short-term rental licence, and DeHart is employed by Ramada Hotels and owns two units on Sunset Drive.
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