Stanstead Township wants to grandfather short-term rental properties
Apublic consultation will be held on Feb.6 in Stanstead Township regarding the first draft of bylaw 403-2017, which would give an acquired right to short-term rental properties in the Fitch Bay area, previously operating in contravention of the existing Municipal bylaws.
Residents in the Fitch Bay area complained to council in 2015 about shortterm rental properties bringing in constant streams of weekend renters, often causing noise issues and disturbances in the otherwise peaceful neighbourhood.
After receiving the complaints, the town sent letters to owners renting out
their properties, only to find that many were operating legally, certified by the Corporation de l'industrie Touristique du Quebec (CITQ).
The building inspector working for the municipality between May of 2011 and March of 2014 had issued letters of authorization, legitimizing the shortterm rental properties, unbeknownst to council or the town manager.
Faced with the conundrum of rental businesses previously granted authorization by the inspector, Stanstead Township Mayor Francine Caron-markwell told residents during the August council meeting last summer that the town would not take steps to close them down. Because the property owners had been issued permits, they had a legal right to rent. For the town to contest that right would involve a costly legal battle and there was no guarantee they would win, Caron-markwell said.
On Jan.9 of this year council filed a notice of motion for the first draft of bylaw 403-2017, which would give an acquired right to rental properties already in operation with CITQ certification.
“The citizens will have the last word,” Caron-markwell told The Record in an interview yesterday. Members of the community are welcome to share any concerns about the bylaw and make recommendations. Council won’t necessarily keep Article 3, the ‘acquired right’ section of the clause, she added.
According to Caron-markwell, less than 20 per cent of the population is full-time residents in the area around Arrow Head Road, the source of the short-term rental complaints.
When asked why council was starting the adoption process for a bylaw when 80 per cent of the residents it would affect were out of town, Caron-markwell replied, “If we want it to be done by summer, we have to start now.”
The public consultation regarding the first draft of bylaw 403-2017 will take place on Monday, Feb.6 at the Stanstead Township town hall located at 778, chemin Sheldon.