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District of Barriere CAO Colleen Hannigan reported to the Committee Of The Whole on Jan. 22, regarding long term RV accommodation concerns within the municipality.
Her report noted there has been a noticeable increase over the past few months of recreational vehicles (RVs) being used in local campgrounds and in other areas of the District for long term accommodation as opposed to the intended use of temporary accommodation for the traveling public.
Although the District has an accepted practice of complaint-based bylaw enforcement and have not received specific complaints regarding this non-conforming use, general concerns are being raised around the safety of the inhabitants of these vehicles particularly during the winter season.
This report deals with the discussion around what level of enforcement should be imposed around the use of a recreational vehicle as a non-compliant affordable housing option within the District of Barriere.
Hannigan noted that due to the aging demographic with the baby boomers entering their golden years, many municipalities in B.C. are seeing a growing trend in the use of RVs as a permanent housing option.
“What was initially a plausible retirement option, to sell everything and travel year round with a fully equipped RV, is for some turning into a challenge when travel-related health insurance or other health or financial challenges arise and they are forced to remain in B.C. long term,” reported the CAO.
“Without a permanent home base as an alternative they are faced with renting, the supply of which is, as we know, severely limited making it an even more difficult option to deal with than staying put in their cozy RV,” concluded Hannigan.
The District’s Zoning Bylaw differentiates between a recreational vehicle (RV) which includes a Park Model unit (less than 400 sq.ft.) and a mobile home.
A mobile home is a single family dwelling manufactured to specific CAN/CSAZ240 standards under B.C. legislation and constructed and inspected off site. They are formally registered in a provincial registry.
A mobile home can be single wide or double wide and is transportable to and from sites on wheels. Single or double wide mobile homes are permitted in Mobile Home Parks while any located outside a Park are required to meet certain minimum width requirements, placed on permanent foundations and deregistered.
“Although discussion has also arisen around what are considered to be potentially unsafe additions to permitted mobile homes, our Fire Department is currently undertaking a District-wide inspection that will identify potential safety hazards in the legally-located mobile homes and address these issues with educational materials, warning letters and potentially fines,” reported Hannigan.
The concerns with respect to the use of RVs or other forms of travel trailers for longer term accommodation, particularly in the winter season, in Barriere were discussed.
They included:
• RVs are often situated in close quarters with each other or with an adjacent single family dwelling unit increasing the risk of fire rapidly spreading from one unit to the next.
• Some RV owners have built on temporary additions that accommodate an unlicensed wood stove or other gas heater unit. If fire should start in this location the opportunity for escape may be severely limited. The committee recommended to District staff to address these issues by:
* Have the Fire Department include RVs in their District-wide inspection so that potential safety hazards could be identified and
discussed with the owners.
* Follow up with educational materials and possibly with notices or fines.
* Undertake a public review of the current Zoning Bylaw with respect to permitting or restricting the long term use o
