FEBRUARY’S RCMP STATS ON BOWEN PAGE 8
$1.50
inc. GST
FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2024
VOL. 50 NO. 14
BIUndercurrent
BowUndercurrent www.bowenislandundercurrent.com
QUARRY PARK TREEFALL
PAGE 6
New principal residence rule for STR operators ALEX KURIAL Editor
WORTH THE HIKE While it may be a tall trek to the top, the views from Mount Gardner lookout are well worth the hike - especially sunsets, such as this one on Monday night. / Lisa Brougham photo
Property owners will now have to live at their Bowen residences if they wish to offer them as short-term rentals. In a split vote at their March 25 meeting, municipal council decided to opt-in to provincial Bill 35, dubbed the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act. The legislation passed last fall was enacted with the goal of creating more long-term rental options for local residents. The new provisions, including a primary residency condition for operating short-term rentals (STR), applied automatically to towns of 10,000 people or more, with the option for smaller municipalities to sign-on if desired. With a March 31 deadline to opt-in – and enforcement of the new rules beginning Nov. 1 – earlier this year the question was referred to the Community Economic Development Committee (CEDC) and Housing Advisory Committee (HAC) for feedback. A public survey was also conducted and three open houses held. CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
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