Stand-alone short term rental (Stage 2 residential guest accommodation [RGA]) unit applications at 11 locations advanced to the notification point in their review at the March 7 council meeting.
Signage will be posted at the sites, the addresses will be advertised and owners of properties within 100 meters of the locations will be sent letters, all inviting public comment on council’s intention to consider temporary use permits (TUP) for the units. Comments received will be provided for council’s review.
If approved, the TUPs would expire at the end of 2024, with one renewal for one to three years possible. A TUP is required for the owners to apply for an annual business licence to operate an RGA in a unit that is not also a primary residence.
Applications have been made for RGAs in an entire home on a residential property at 558 North Fletcher, a secondary residence at 805 Payne Road and three units in the multi-family housing development at 524 South Fletcher Road. The remainder of the applications involve a secondary or garden suite on residential properties.
A staff report on the meeting agenda indicated town building, bylaw and planning staff screened the applications to ensure they meet requirements. The Gibsons and Area Fire Department provided a review and asked that fire safety plans be redrafted so that they can be easily understood by guests.
On Dec. 6, 2022, council approved 22 TUP applications in its first round of Stage 2 RGA application reviews. The report noted since that date, 18 of those have been issued business licences, three are in the licensing process and one has opted not to pursue licensing.
