The Regional Board has given two readings to a bylaw that would regulate the use of private residences as short-term vacation rentals.
The bylaw will now go to public hearings — to be held in Osoyoos, Okanagan Falls and Naramata later this summer — before returning to the Regional Board for disposition.
The bylaw would require property owners to apply for a Temporary Usage Permit (TUP) in order to offer their residences as short-term vacation rentals. The property would be required to meet a set number of conditions before the TUP would be granted.
The RDOS annually receives numerous complaints — generally noise-related or involving traffic and parking overflow, adverse impact on the character of the neighborhood or septic failure — from neighbours of private dwellings operated as vacation rentals.
The 9-1-1 Emergency Service Loan authorization bylaw, providing for $1.64 million in borrowing to upgrade equipment, was adopted following a successful Alternative Approval Process.
The Regional Board gave a third reading to a bylaw amending the Electoral Area ‘A’ Official Community Plan to provide for a subdivision at the north end of Osoyoos Lake. The subdivision will include up to 80 single family residences. The Board approved the amendment subject to numerous restrictions.
The Board reviewed an Official Community Plan from the Village of Keremeos and requested RDOS administration notify the Village of concerns with the plan. The concerns would be addressed by Directors for Areas adjacent to the Village.
The Board granted an exemption to the Electoral Area ‘F’ noise bylaw to provide for construction over a 36-hour period beginning 6 p.m. July 20 and ending 6 a.m. July 22 to extend a water main to the West Bench. The work will take place on West Bench Hill Road.
A $59,000 tender was awarded to Neilson Roofing and Sheet Metal Ltd. for roof resurfacing at the Similkameen Recreation Centre in Keremeos.
The Board received as information a report provided by Electoral Area ‘H’ Director Brad Hope outlining a program for sustainable health care for the Princeton area.