Consultant will help Fort Erie shape short-term rental planning policy

The city will spend $75,000 to rent a marketing consultant that can assist form Official Plan and zoning adjustments wanted to assist regulate short-term leases (STRs).

An oft-delayed report regarding and use management and a authorized assessment of insurance policies concerning short-term leases in Fort Erie was lastly handled on the Jan. 24 council assembly and earlier than council voted to obtain the report for info functions and retain a marketing consultant, one councillor categorical some issues concerning the report.

Ward 6 Coun. Ann-Marie Noyes mentioned she understood the necessity to rent a marketing consultant however puzzled how lengthy the method would take.

“Are we two months, 5 months, 10 months, 12 months in regard to the dialogue? I’m hoping that a number of the info that we now have within the report, and granted, it was taken from dialogue we had with a really restricted variety of folks doesn't turn into the spine of future discussions.”

Performing Director of Planning and Growth, Alex Herlovitch, who got here to the city after retiring from the identical position in Niagara Falls and who changed Kira Dolch, who took Herlovitch’s former place, mentioned the method will take as much as a yr.

“We now have bought to place out a name for proposals for a marketing consultant,” he mentioned. “As nicely, this research would contain an Official Plan modification and new insurance policies for the city in addition to new zoning laws.”

Noyes additionally mentioned she had points with a number of factors made within the report.

One was a conclusion within the report that placing STRs on the waterfront would offer a method for folks, who could not be capable of afford it in any other case, can benefit from the entry.

“I don’t purchase that argument,” she mentioned, including that the city has carried out a number of work to verify residents and guests have waterfront entry.

“We now have many locations for the general public to benefit from the waterfront,” she mentioned.

Mayor Wayne Redekop, in the meantime, marvel if the city might assert management over STRs being created in new builds.

“Virtually each new subdivision we approve goes via a zoning bylaw modification and I’m questioning whether or not we couldn’t merely embody within the zoning bylaw modification, a provision that short-term leases usually are not permitted,” he mentioned.

Chief administrative officer Tom Kuchyt mentioned discussions surrounding what the mayor was asking about have taken place.

“I don’t see why we couldn't however I'll run it by our solicitor (Jennifer Stirton) to substantiate,” Kuchyt mentioned.

Redekop additionally puzzled how the realm surrounding the Fort Erie Race Monitor turned an space the place employees felt could be a great spot for STRs.

Director of Growth Approvals Aaron Butler mentioned there have been “already permissions in coverage and in zoning coverage surrounding the race observe lands” that may permit for leases to be situated there.

Because the dialogue surrounding regulation of short-term leases, there's a moratorium on new items being established on the town and the variety of licences being issued for 2022 has been set at 250.

The report additionally mentioned that any new zoning laws created won't apply to present short-term leases, no matter the place they're situated, as they'd be “afforded authorized nonconforming use protections below the Planning Act."