KELOWNA – The City of Kelowna has launched legal action against the owners of five recreational vehicle parks, claiming they’re breaking local by-laws.
The city’s agri-tourism regulations stipulate such accommodations must be short term, intended mostly for tourists, and are not to be residential in nature.
“More permanent sorts of structures are being added onto some of these R-V’s,” says Bylaw Services Manager Greg Wise. “So basically they’re becoming year round type of living as opposed to the intended use which was seasonal accommodation on working agricultural property.”
The city also alleges the parks have more rental pads than what is permitted for the size of the properties.
The owner of the Scenic View RV Park says he started operations before the bylaw was amended in 2010 with tougher restrictions, so they don’t apply to his park.
“If you’re in business prior to the new rules, you’re legal non-conforming and you’re grand-fathered. And that’s what the issue is,” says Graeme James.
But Wise says the park owners were violating the bylaw even before it was upgraded six years ago so they aren’t eligible for grand-fathering protections.
The city is seeking court orders to force the R-V park owners to play by the rules as they now exist, including no guests during the five winter months.
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