Prince Edward County is making headway on revamping the short-term accommodation (STA) licensing process.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, councillors voted in favour of putting out expressions of interest on both STA compliance software and a study on how STAs affect housing in the county.
According to a staff report, STA compliance softwares serve to monitor STA licenses for duplicate listings, over-renting, valid licence numbers and simply to enforce the rules surrounding STAs.
The report also explains that the study would help better understand how the presence of STAs has affected the creation and/or removal of affordable housing in the county and their effect on the real estate market. This study comes with the goal of seeking to make changes to the current STA licensing program before it is reopened.
The budget for the expression of interest for the compliance software is $25,000, to be paid from the modernization fund. The budget for the study is $30,000 to be paid from the STA Licensing Program reserve.
Councillor Janice Maynard questioned the impact the study could have.
“I’m just wondering why in particular we’re going to spend money on a study. I think we can all assume that, like everywhere else in the world that has a preponderance of STAs, that the data is pretty robust as to the effects it has on affordable housing and livability. Once we get this study what exactly would we do with it?”
Director of Community Services, Programs and Initiatives Todd Davis explained that the study, with information specific to Prince Edward County, would help them make changes to the licensing program and would also assist with any legal challenges that would be associated with that.
Councillor John Hirsch moved that the STA licensing program reopen immediately as any changes to the licensing program will not be suggested until May at the earliest.
Councillor Hirsch’s motion was taken to a vote and failed.
Eventually, council voted to move forward with the expressions of interest on the compliance software and the study.
