Some owners of units in a Lake Country condo project, along with area residents, say they91裸聊视频檝e been misled by the developer about the intended use of the property.
More than 100 people packed into council chambers for a 2.5-hour public hearing on Nov. 5 to speak against a zoning amendment that would allow Zara at Lakestone to become a strata hotel/motel.
Amir Haque, with Dominium, the developer behind Zara, told the hearing that the proposed amendment clarifies a 2020 council decision and the project91裸聊视频檚 2012 master plan, which stated that part of the building would be used for short-term rentals (STRs). Haque said Zara was always intended to operate as a strata-titled resort.
91裸聊视频淭he zoning that we had was adopted in 2015, subsequent to the master plan approval,91裸聊视频� he added. 91裸聊视频淲e presented to council in 2020, and now here we are with the zoning clarification, which was prompted in part by provincial legislation.91裸聊视频�
Area resident Grant Stevens argued that the amendment is not a clarification.
91裸聊视频淭here might have been a master plan in 2012, but legislation has changed since then, and it does not allow short-term rentals,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e asking for a significant change to the zoning allowance for that particular property.91裸聊视频�
One man, who owns a condo in Zara, told council he never heard about the zoning change.
91裸聊视频淢y wife and I didn91裸聊视频檛 spend the amount of money we spent to be part of a hotel,91裸聊视频� he added. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e against the zoning change bylaw.91裸聊视频�
Several speakers suggested that the entire building may end up as short-term rentals once it becomes a strata. Haque said there is no exact number, but added that approximately a third of the owners (86 units) had expressed an interest in short-term rentals.
91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 why there91裸聊视频檚 a master plan in place, so that these things are considered for the totality of the community, not just the immediate neighbours,91裸聊视频� Haque explained.
Units would not be rented through companies such as Airbnb or Vrbo but would instead be listed on a dedicated website with a minimum seven-day rental. However, several speakers countered that a strata could change that rule in the future.
Other residents also suggested that there are unsold units in the building, and that a zoning change to allow short-term rentals would increase the value of the development and possibly attract investors.
91裸聊视频淭he entire project did sell out in a week and we have taken two units back,91裸聊视频� Haque said. 91裸聊视频淭his is not financially motivated.91裸聊视频�
Council had previously given first and second readings to the bylaw changes and requested a staff report providing clarity on the proposed amendment following Tuesday night's meeting.
District CAO Paul Gipps said the report will take some time.
91裸聊视频淏ecause there is a lot of uncertainty, there will be conversations with the province, conversations with the developer, and conversations about options council could consider.91裸聊视频�
Council will consider the report and the potential third reading of the bylaw amendment at a future open meeting.
