Hunters and cottagers get council's attention
Hunters and cottagers get council's attention
Council meeting on Tuesday will deal with where guns can be discharged and whether short-term rentals are permitted
Two of the hot potatoes that Trent Hills councillors have been juggling this spring are being tossed back to them at their meeting on Tuesday – a bylaw, or not, on discharging firearms and a bylaw controlling short-term rentals.
The gun proposal has generated the most heat, with a meeting in early May attended by about 100 hunters who weren’t happy with the idea of limits on where they are able to fire their guns. They argued provincial and federal laws already provide more than enough controls to deal with any concerns.
The issue had been brought to a head by Christine Trilliard who lives on County Rd. 50 near Lock 14. A neighbour has fired a shotgun at geese the past two falls, creating noise that has upset and scared some other neighbours. A lengthy search for legal help to stop the shooting led Trilliard to conclude that it was a municipal issue.
Stephen White, Chief Building Official, who also oversees the bylaw department, has sent a report to council suggesting two options – pass the draft bylaw that prohibits discharge of firearms in certain built-up areas and requires a setback from a property line in other areas. This would prohibit shooting in cottage areas with small lots.
But he acknowledges that this was not popular at the public meeting or in comments received.
“The public meeting feedback concluded that the issue seems to not be hunting practices in general, but that individuals are practicing what was described as unethical and irresponsible use of firearms,” his report says.
“As a result of the feedback received, an alternative solution to a municipal firearms by-law was considered, especially given the feedback receive from members of the public and the fact that a law restricting firearms already exists at the provincial level. In addition, members of the public who attended the meeting, suggested that they would provide guidance to educate the community on safe hunting practices.”
This option would rely on the provincial and federal gun laws and focus municipal efforts on training and education.
The report includes 19 comments that were received after the public meeting, including one from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters offering to help the municipality deal with any concerns.
Rental restrictions remain
The short-term rental issue has been bouncing around for a couple of years. Currently, any Airbnb or similar rental units are illegal since there is only a bylaw permitting traditional bed and breakfasts. Two years ago, the municipality started drafting a bylaw that would have permitted short-term rentals while setting out controls dealing with noise and other issues.
But that changed late last year when the province ordered municipalities to focus on increasing the supply of housing and ensuring that homes were not taken off the long-term rental market and turned into short-term rentals.
In February, staff returned with a bylaw that would have prohibited most short-term rentals but did set rules that would permit some properties to be rented. That plan drew many complaints from homeowners at a public meeting, while others supported stronger controls to deal with noise problems.
Cristal Laanstra, Manager of Planning, has a report to council that suggests redrafting the bylaw a little but the focus remains on prohibiting most short-term rentals. Any home rented for less than 30 days at a time would have to be registered as a bed and breakfast and either the owner or their representative would have to live on the property.
This approach would block the short-term rental of most cottages in the area, something that is bound to continue to draw complaints.
Laanstra’s report says the staff support the provincial efforts to increase housing supply. “To support the addition of units to the housing stock, staff recommend the municipality protect housing stock that exists. Working to create housing opportunities while simultaneously allowing hundreds of houses to be removed from long-term housing availability would be disingenuous.”
Her report acknowledges that this approach may not satisfy all councillors.
“Staff recognize that council may wish to look at other options that include the use of whole home (short-term accommodations) STAs in some limited capacity. Preliminary research has identified the need for legal consultation and the challenge of tracking and enforcement.
“Staff encourages council to approve the recommended amendment as an initial step to creating a more flexible zoning regulation for accommodation. Staff are asking for direction on what further considerations staff are to research and report back on.”
The meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. You can attend in person at the council chamber on Doxsee St. South, or watch online through the municipality’s portal. The agenda and reports for the meeting are available here. I’m currently in B.C. so I’ll be drinking coffee and watching online to see what council decides to do.
In regards to Hunting and Shooting. I would presume that the OPP and Ontario Conservation have been consulted as to violations. Neither had a representative at the last meeting.
In regards to air B&B, just come back after three weeks in Europe where they are very popular. Is a few bad apples going to spoil home owners from making a few dollars.
Hoping this council will make a good decision.