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Camper bylaw in final stages

West Nipissing Council has drafted up a new bylaw when it comes to campers and trailers.

“Council received a memo to refresh everyone’s memory,” Mayor Joanne Savage explained. “We had discussed this at the first meeting of March before COVID-19. Council recommended proceeding with all the suggestions, or responses from then.”

“It talks about the number of campers based on the zoning from residential R1 to R4,” she continued. “To rural residential, shoreline, setbacks, and the draft bylaw is going to be sent to the planning board.”

Savage says once they get the draft back, the residents of West Nipissing will be able to see the proposal and have a chance to voice their opinions.

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“There will be a consultation that will take place with the public because it has to do with an amendment with our zoning bylaw,” she said. “It’s very descriptive according to the planning act, so people will have the opportunity to see what the draft bylaw is and have an opportunity for a last view and provide feedback before the actual bylaw is endorsed.”

The idea for the new bylaw came a year ago, and from November 18 to December 2, 2019, West Nipissing Chief Administrative Officer Jay Barbeau, the by-law enforcement officer, the municipal planner and Mayor Savage with members from council attended six public consultation sessions on the proposed new bylaw before completing the draft.

There were five issues brought forward and asked of residents:

  • Do residents agree the environment needs to be protected, should there be a maximum allowance on trailers per property?
  • Should there be a minimum set-back from lot lines and water-bodies?
  • Will there be licencing and if so, will it be one-time or annual?
  • If there is a fee, will it be one-time or annual?

“Everyone agreed that there had to be a by-law to protect the environment, there was no disagreement with that,” Savage said in March. “The issues that were contentious was pertaining to registration and paying a fee. There was quite a variance in opinions between the locations where the consultations took place.”

“There was a variance pertaining to the number of trailers that would be allowed,” she added. “An issue on the existing amount of trailers, would they be grandfathered or not. What would be required for owners to be in compliance as well?”

However, one item that will not appear in the by-law is registration or fees, according to Savage.

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