Wainfleet politicians have imposed a temporary freeze on any new short-term home rentals in the township while work continues to put in place a system to regulate and license rentals that some residents say are a source of constant noise and disruption by partying out-of-towners.
Wainfleet Mayor Kevin Gibson, meanwhile, wants residents sick and tired of wild parties and loss of privacy to know that the township is proceeding steadily on putting a control system into place while navigating the legal complexities surrounding the issue.
Lindsay Earl, manager of community and development services, presented council June 21 with a new report with various options such as keeping the status quo and steering clear of regulating short-term rentals, prohibiting short-term rentals in Wainfleet except for existing rentals, using zoning bylaw or official plan amendments to establish where new short-term rentals could be established, or making licensing of rentals mandatory with a system of demerit points for rentals not obeying noise, parking and safety rules.
Chief administrative officer William Kolasa said it’s an “extremely complex situation” trying to finalize a regulatory system for rentals in a township without large planning or licensing departments, and without causing undue collateral harm to hundreds of short-term rentals that aren’t causing any problems with neighbours.
Coun. Terry Gilmore said the problems are being caused by a small minority of rental homes, and he worried the vast majority of responsible rental homeowners could get “caught in the crossfire” of paying for the administrative fees associated with a licensing system.