Prince Edward County council is taking a temporary pause when it comes to short-term accommodation program applications.
Following a lengthy discussion on Tuesday night at Highline Hall in Wellington, councillors passed a motion that would see new applications for the short-term accommodation licensing program end as of September 30 at 3 p.m. as well as a full program review completed by the end of January 2021.
The motion was sought by Councillor Kate McNaughton who told her fellow council members she was hoping to see a pause on whole home, non-resident applications while hoping to allow for the the owner-occupied and B and B applications to continue.
The program was originally put in place by council in the spring of 2019 and applications began in late October, early November that same year.
CAO Marcia Wallace told council they would be working with an incomplete picture as they don’t have a full year’s worth of data.
Councillor Bill Roberts was concerned a full pause on applications would penalize their residents, friends and neighbours.
Acting Director of Community Development and Strategic Initiatives Todd Davis said it was his understanding 80% of applications are the whole home, non-occupied short-term accommodations.
Councillor Phil St-Jean agreed with Councillor McNaughton that the intent of the motion is to address non-owner occupied whole home STAs.
CAO Wallace said by trying to single out one type of application specifically would leave the municipality liable versus applying the temporary pause fairly and equally across the board.
The motion passed by a vote of eight to four.
