District seeking more info before bylaw
The District of lake Country is looking at tourist communities like Whistler and Tofino to figure out the best course of action in creating an Airbnb bylaw. Mayor James Baker says Tofino is an ideal model because it's "not a total resort community but are almost that way, where everybody[renters] is short term, but we do want to have long term residents in our community as well."
The Mayor says a balance is needed to accomodate people living in Lake Country, give them a chance to make extra income and keep more of the tourist dollars in the district. "You have a hockey tournament but everybody stays in Kelowna because we don't have any hotels or motels where they could stay, so they spend as much money in Kelowna as they do in Lake Country."
Lake Country has already legalized suites for homeowners and Baker says that's well positioned residents to help pay the mortgage, and it's created more spaces for students going to school nearby.
