Here on Bowen Island we like to think of ourselves as good neighbours. We look out for each other’s kids, we help one another move large pieces of furniture, we bring pies and bottles of wine when someone moves in next door.
Sometimes these relationships turn sour.
I worry that our council’s latest move, to inform the public (now you know) and put owners of illegal vacation rental properties “on notice” that our noise bylaws will be enforced will only serve to exacerbate neighbourly conflicts.
I am glad to hear that council is willing to tackle the issue of illegal vacation rentals. I understand that it is complicated, and that tackling it head on would take time – perhaps more than it is worth. Still, this “clean” method (as the mayor described it) actually seems kind of dirty.
Putting people on notice that noise bylaws will be enforced seems to imply that we did not take noise bylaws seriously in the first place. Failing to even ask owners of properties that are officially legal to comply undermines bylaws in general.
Is it any wonder in an environment like this, that people don’t take parking tickets seriously?
I think it’s true what they say: good fences make good neighbours. The same could be said of bylaws. So, if our Council really values our island community, they can help us all out by applying bylaws as they stand - and staying out of “the muddle.”
