Short-term rentals (STRs) in residential areas are a worldwide problem, and now they are in La Pêche. They often compete unfairly with traditional accommodations, and they can cause problems in the community with noise, parking, loss of long-term housing and a general loss of the community fabric. Who wants to live next door to a home that is dark during the week, has parties on weekends and people you don't know are constantly coming and going?
STRs are businesses operating in residential areas and so are illegal under current zoning law. But they're here, they do meet a market niche and so some should be allowed. But who and where? The municipality has proposed a new bylaw that would regulate them. It would, however, still allow anyone to operate STRs anywhere so long as they obtain a certificate regulating such matters as number of renters, noise and parking. The proposed bylaw is a good start, but does nothing to deal with their total number, density or the fact that the owner may not live there which can cause community problems.
STRs need to be more restricted! At a minimum there should be a requirement that the STR unit be the owner's residence to ensure an attachment to the neighbourhood. The proposed bylaw does not go far enough. We therefore specifically request that the municipality address the concerns of competitive fairness and loss of integrity of our neighbourhoods by adding a requirement that the STR unit be the owner's residence, and that the owner either be present on site or if not that he/she be limited in the number of rental days per year.
Limitons les locations de courte durée à La Pêche! For further information, see our Facebook page: Neighbourhoods are for Neighbours La Pêche.
