A Peachland councillor feels bed and breakfast operators are being unfairly targeted in a review of the districts香蕉视频直播� development application and business licensing fees.
The review proposes a separate fee for BnB香蕉视频直播檚. The cost of a standard annual business licence would remain unchanged.
香蕉视频直播淚f you run a cannabis business, or outdoor vendor, or other specific business you香蕉视频直播檙e ok,香蕉视频直播� Coun. Keith Thom noted. 香蕉视频直播淲hy have we targeted tourist accommodation when we have such a shortage.香蕉视频直播�
Staff said the extra fee is due to the increased time and effort required in processing those applications.
Thom said he has operated a BnB for the past several years, and suggested that issuing a new licence should be as simple as having staff print one out.
The proposed development and business fees changes香蕉视频直播攕ome of which are being updated after nearly a decade香蕉视频直播攚ere presented to council at its June 10 meeting. They aim to better reflect the cost of municipal services and bring Peachland香蕉视频直播檚 fees more in line with similar communities in the Okanagan.
Planning staff looked at fee structures in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Summerland, Penticton, Vernon, and Lake Country. The comparison showed that Peachland香蕉视频直播檚 fees are generally lower and don香蕉视频直播檛 always scale based on the size or complexity of a project.
For example, under the current structure, someone submitting an application for a major subdivision pays the same fee as someone proposing a minor lot split. Staff told council that doesn香蕉视频直播檛 make sense, since bigger projects demand more time and resources.
Proposed changes would classify applications as either 香蕉视频直播渕ajor香蕉视频直播� or 香蕉视频直播渕inor,香蕉视频直播� with different fee levels to match.
Twelve application types are expected to see fee increases, and nine new fees are being introduced to fill gaps in the current bylaw. Staff said they香蕉视频直播檝e been careful to keep the increases reasonable, and in some cases Peachland香蕉视频直播檚 new fees would still be lower than those in comparable municipalities.
The proposed bylaw also introduces changes to business licensing. Seasonal business licences would be removed entirely, due to enforcement challenges and the fact that they require the same amount of staff time as regular licences.
To keep fees in line with inflation, an annual two per cent increase would be built into the bylaw for the next three years.
Council directed staff to draft a bylaw amendment reflecting the recommended changes and to begin consulting with local developers and stakeholders.
