Lakeshore Advance, 2011-12-28, Page 66 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Lambton Shores takes a look at short term rental issues
Public meeting in January
Lynda Hillman-Rapley
Lakeshore Advance
in a report to council, clerk Carol McKen-
zie explained what the short terns rental
advisory committee have conte tip with.
"Lambton Shores is a vibrant, growing
community, with not only residential, com-
mercial and agricultural sectors, but also a
significant tourist component. Visitors to
our community support the local busi-
nesses, our special events and are an inte-
gral part of Our dynamic community. Peo-
ple collie to the area to enjoy themselves;
however, when this cannot he done with-
out disturbing the residents or negatively
impact a community, it is appropriate for
the municipality to look into regulations to
assist residents."
She said concerns have been raised in
the community regarding excessive noise
and nuisance occurrence's, usually taking
place at short terns rental accommoda-
tions. Council appointed a "Short Terns
Rental Advisory Ad 1Ioc" committee to
review the current regulations and to make
recommendations to Council on hays to
improve or enhance the situation.
'Ihe committee has met with the by-law
enforc('nient officers atld the Ontario Pro-
vincial Police to review what has been suc-
cessful in the past and what improvements
or enhancements should be considered. in
addition, by-laws and regulations from
other communities have been researched
and other idea investigated.
"'Ihe various provisions that the commit-
tee would like to see incorporated into
the Lambton Shores' by-laws have been
identified and sent to the municipal solici-
tor for review, and lie has stressed that any
controls proposed for behaviour modifica-
tion must identify the source of power to
enact the regulation and cannot infringe
on the legislative authority of other levels
of government. 'these comments resulted
in modifications to the original proposals
to enStIIt' c()Inplian('e with the le'gislation,"
said McKenizie.
A public sleeting has been scheduled for
January 14 at the (rand Bend Legion at 10
a.m. and a copy of the report made availa-
ble on the municipal website prior to the
meeting which will allow residents to
review the proposals and prepare for the
sleeting.
Exemptions:
In addition to standard exemptions
(emergency response Vehicles, Canada
Day celebrations, etc), most by-laws
researched had a requirement that resi-
dents or organizations apply to Council for
The Municipality of [.annbton Shores
TM
LIVING IN LAMBTON SHORES... A a'M41 tiratalit My Weller i rwvs ra miner l'orrv+h
Administration Department - 7883 Amtelecom Parkway, Forest, Ontario NON 1J0
1-077.7862335, 519.786.2335, Fax 519.706.2135, Emad adnlnotretxnelemblunshores ca Vise our Web See at www krnbtonsrxxes ca
COUNCIL MEETING OATES - JANUARY 2012
Regular Council Meetings - Monday, Jentwry 9" and 23".700 - 1000 p m
Special Council Meeting - Tuesday, January 17", 2 0 p m 10 4 30 p m
Budget Meeting - Wed , January 11, 100 - 4 30 p m - Lsrltplon Nether Museum
Budget Meeting - Thursday, January 19, 1 0 - 430 p m
Committee of Adjustment Thursday. Jerwary 28.700 p m
NI meetings at the Thedfohl Village Complex. unless noted otherwise
Naming a Private Road In Beach O'PInas:
Please be advised that the MunuapaMy of lamblon Stores has been asked
to name a private road r Right d Way within the Beech O'Penes subdivision
Tia proposed name for the right of way shown below is 'DuCher ne lane'
Council *AN consider a road naming bylaw al *a meeting held January 1L
Mal at700pm
Not the naming of this road veil not affect or change the status of the road
Christmas Holiday Business Hours
Duds IM Christmas a New Year's holiday Season.
8* larnblon Shores' Municipal offices In Forest and
Grand Bend win be dosed Decembw 74" to January
7", and win be bac* in u. sonic* Tuesday. Janury
3". 2012
The l emblon Shores Commcun*y Services ISepaltment ell be open Iso business
December 26" a 29"
During this holiday Socias Me Community Services Department will De on duty to
ensure tat winter wed mantenalcs and snospkw t n and other auanhal services
are delivered dug this sane period
2011 - 2012 Holiday Skate Schedule
Tim Morton's 'mites you 10 enjoy some
time with your family and Mends and
skate for free et your local arena
Pot Ave Mohd y Skating eines
Owe see ow Munkfpal Wsbs/rs of
11100.10
Ps A P(. LIC INFORMATION MEETING will be held
on Saturday. January 14.201= from 10 00 a m
to noon, at the Grand Bend legion to discuss possible
emendments lo Municipal by Awes to further control Ion
exceasMe noise or actions that negatively impact the
health, peace or safety of residents of the Municipality
of Lampton Stores Information on the proposed
rhe gee yule be available on the Lambton Stores
webs*,
4waye .-
N.e
Holiday Schedule
for Garbage i Recycling Pickup
Tlman se tr no unravel' to Vre yerbape and rkycMq poi up scheokx5
over iM llopday Season
For krther x#nyton plea,, anted ,+e Community Servioss Dept M
519143 1400 a I Ne 943 14011
CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING
The McrrtvpHMy of t amb1n Shores win once again provide
CMrilrnas pea drop -on depots tom January 3rd • 1 Soh
Depots are located at the following Conrmxlay Services Yards
0015 Port Franks Road 44ontwIllo
10 Ann M • Fore,
For further InMnnabort phase coned the
Community Service Department at
519.243.1400 or 1.866.943.1400
Noris TO Au. Coe r acToasl Cameos ro TMs ONTARIO Swum* Coos
Pisa' be advised that as of January 1", 2012, M new reNdsntlal construction must mem IM new requirements of ' Supplementry Standard SB.12 •
Energy Efficiency For Housing' This Supplementary Standard provtdw presaipttve requirements to achieve an acceptable Mr leakage rah and energy
efficiency leve as an altenalhn to achieving a rating 0180 when evaluated In accordance with M technical requiems o1 NRCan's 'E nerGuide ler New
Houses Admn48esv. and Tedw4oal P oamar's'. January 2008
A complete spy of Ihie docunenl M 5vearble on the Municipality of l e mblm Shone weMM under Municipal servroes - Building Permits and nepecl on a
an exemption. 'list' Lambton Shores by-law
allows for exemptions for public celebrations
and events, and this section could he
expanded to
list requirements that must be met to
obtain an exemption, together Lvitll criteria
for Council to consider when reviewing an
application, such as the socio-economic
benefit of the proposed activity to the munic-
ipatlity or residents, the volume iind duration
of the noise, abutting property uses, hours of
operation, t'tc.
Nuisance issues
Currently, the Lambton Shores "Streets
by-law" is used to regulate nuisance that
occur 00 municipal streets or sidewalks. Lay-
ing fines tinder the "Streets" by-law has been
successful in regulating nuisance activities
that take place on municipal streets and side-
walks. The pertinent sections are:
No person shall (either by himself or by
permitting others or by any means)
without lawful authority;
a) obstruct any street or sidewalk;
d) create or cause a public nuisance or a
public safety issue on a street
or sidewalk, or within 3 (three) metres of a
street or sidewalk by fire,
water, Vapour, noisy or any means
whatsoever;
e) conduct any activity which interferes
with public travel or use of a street
or sidewalk,
Again, Council stating the enforcement of
these issues a priority will allow addi-
tional resources to be allocated to these
issues. Other nuisance issues of such as dis-
orderly conduct and issues pertaining to
public morals are offences under Section 5
of the Criminal Code of Canada, and fur-
ther discussions can be undertaken with the
police to discuss enhanced enforcement
of these offences.
Education:
Offering "Short term rental acc•omtnoda-
tions" is a business, and as such, those prof-
iting from the business must be held
accountable for the actions of their tenants.
Property owners are ultimately responsible
for the activities on his/her property, and
have the right, and some might say the obli-
gation, to control those activities.lt had been
discussed that part of the S'1'RA Committee
process would be to educate landlords as to
their responsibilities and obligations not
only udder the municipal bylaws, but also as
a part of the community.
In addition to educating the property own-
ers, it is also important to educate the public
on the enforcement personnel authority and
mandates. In order to lw efficient and effec-
tive with public funds, complaints are dealt
with 00 it priority basis, with priority given to
those with a serious public safety implication.
With respect to by-law municipal enforce-
ment officers, funds for this service is alio •
cated by Council, and the officers schedule
their time and manpower to be as strategic
and effective as possible within the dollars,
This allocated to these duties. is allocation do
not include officers being available 24 hours e
day, 7 days a \veek, as the cost for this level of
service would be prohibitive, however, by
Council designating this issue it priority,
resources can be allocated to assist with
entorcetnent,
Enforcement:
Discussions have already taken place with
the enforcement personnel, and Soint' of
the challenges and impediments to enforce
mens have been identifie'd. Officers will be
informed of Council's decision with respect to
priorities, and that the municipality will
be expecting charges to be laid each and
every time it is possible. if approved by Coun
cil, the use of decibel readers and any clariti
cation of the obligations of the property own
ers and tenants will part of the amended
protocol as well.
Next steps:
it is hoped that the landlords who provide
short terns rental accommodation that
have been problem areas in past will under-
stand the frustrations of not only the neigh-
bours but of the municipality as well, and
"clean up their own houses" If the industry
does not police itself, and if the stricter
enforcement of the regulations doesn't
resolve the issues, the municipality will he
forced to take further action, and the next stet)
would be the implementation of a licensing
by-law that will require all persons offering
rentals that are not regulated under any spe-
cific Act, such as the Residential 'Tenancies
Act, or the Innkeepers Act, to obtain a license
before offering "short term rental" accommo-
dations. Prior to a license being issued, there
would be a list of criteria that will need to he
met, such as fire inspections, parking plans,
septic reviews (if applicable), Electrical Safety
inspection, etc, and there would be specific
criteria that the landlords would need to meet
to retain their license 0) operate.
(:heck out the full report at www.lambton
shores.ca
Attempted murder suspect
remanded into custody
A Windsor -area elan has been remanded
in custody On an attempted murder charge
following a brief video appearance in Sarnia
court this morning.
Kirk Allan Wanklin, 51, was the co-worker
of Warwick contractor Steve Lithgow who
called police on Dec. 1 to report he'd found
Lithgow unconscious and suffering from a
severe head injury at a Sarnia job site. lie was
later arrested by Sarnia police.
investigators have yet to speak with
Lithgow, who remains 111 a London hospital.
He is 00 longer in a conga.
Wanklin's next court appearance has been
set for fan. 4, 2012.
Meanwhile, a trust fund account has been
opened itt the "i'1) Canada Trust Bank in For-
est for the Lithgow family. The account
number is 24286260155.