A tale of two neighbors: differing views on the short-term rental debate

Two neighbors on Orr Lake find themselves in the same situation but have completely different views on the experience.

One of them owns a cottage at 3 Cedar Lane and rents it out for short-term rentals, which she says contributes to the local economy.

“It creates local jobs, customers for local businesses and plenty of cleaners to maintain properties and businesses,” Ann Fan told the Springwater Township Council Wednesday night.

She spoke virtually during a mandatory public meeting to consider an official plan amendment and a zoning ordinance change for STRs in the township.

However, Fan’s neighbor at 7 Cedar Lane has a different opinion.

“People usually arrive, back up their car, open the trunk, take their coolers, their beer cases, their soda cases, and many of them don’t leave for the weekend,” said Nora Dixon, a senior citizen and Fan’s neighbor from Orr Lake who appeared in person at the council meeting.

“I think part of it is because they (fans) give them so many recreational activities that they don’t have to leave. They can stay there and have a great time,” Dixon added. “Are they really contributing to the local economy?”

Although Dixon says she has an excellent relationship with her neighbor — “we really have no complaints about them or the unit as a whole” — she believes it’s important for the council to look at both sides of the issue.

Orr Lake is just minutes outside of Elmvale.

Dixon was the only voice against STRs at this week’s meeting.

According to Deborah-Ann Liske, a planner with the township, short-term rentals are currently not defined in land-use planning documents and are not listed as a permitted use in residential areas. As the township considers regulating them, it has had to update the township’s land-use planning documents.

“Following the direction of the township’s attorney this spring and the direction of the township council in July, staff has been preparing the necessary changes to the township’s official plan and zoning ordinance, which are the subject of this evening’s public meeting,” Liske said.

Liske pointed out that these are draft documents that were the subject of discussion at the public meeting on Wednesday and that no recommendation from staff has been made yet.

The Township has initiated an amendment to the Official Plan to provide guidelines for considering short-term rentals. These would be implemented through the Township’s zoning ordinance and also administered through an STR licensing program.

“The proposed zoning amendment provides a definition of short-term rental accommodation and allows such accommodations as a secondary use in all zones where one dwelling unit, one seasonal dwelling unit and one accessory dwelling unit are permitted,” Liske said.

This definition would include that short-term rental accommodation must be subordinate to the designated primary residential use.

“This inclusion in the definition ensures that short-term rentals are not a primary use, as such a use would more closely meet the definition of commercial accommodation,” Liske said. “This means that a residential unit cannot be rented out on a short-term basis if it is not used as a primary residence, so the long-term residential nature of the property is still maintained.”

The term “secondary” was added to the definition because the municipality’s attorney felt that the municipality should make a clear distinction in the proposed definition as to when the use becomes commercial accommodation.

The draft bylaw amendment proposes a minimum parking requirement – ​​one space per rented bedroom – and limits short-term stays to a maximum of 28 consecutive calendar days.

The bylaw amendment, as currently drafted, would allow STR housing in all residential areas within Springwater.

The township’s planning staff will now review all comments, propose possible changes to the draft guidelines, and make a recommendation to the council at a later date.