A Regional District of Nanaimo committee wants a reprieve from enforcement in certain areas where people are living in recreational vehicles.
The electoral services committee considered a bylaw change that would limit stays in a recreational-vehicle park to six months per calendar year.
Current rules are unclear and open to continual interpretation, the district said.
But it heard from staff and housing advocates who are worried that a change would uproot people in recreational vehicles who have no other place to live.
There are no zones in the district’s electoral areas that permit people to live in recreational vehicles.
The current bylaw wording for resort vehicle parks is seen as unclear and needing constant interpretation, the district said in a statement.
As a result, the committee approved a motion to hold off on enforcement of people living in recreational vehicles until a further review of the bylaw is completed.
The motion will go to the district board in July.
If approved, it will apply to campgrounds, resort vehicle parks and recreational vehicle parks in electoral areas A, C, E, F, G and H.
These include Cedar, Yellowpoint, Nanaimo Lakes, Nanoose Bay, Coombs, Whiskey Creek, Englishman River, Little Qualicum, Bowser, Qualicum Bay and Deep Bay.
The motion would apply to these areas provided there are no risks to health, safety and the environment.
Sewage must be disposed of appropriately and drinking water or wells must not be contaminated.
The board “recognizes the housing issue in our region and is committed to taking action to suspend enforcement in these recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds while staff work to present options to the [Regional District of Nanaimo] Board to address housing affordability in the rural areas,” the district said in its statement.
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