Town residents were unaware of a trailer storage bylaw until it was amended in November.
The amendment made by councillor Tim Verhaeghe was to allow residents an extra month to store their trailers at home.
The bylaw now states that trailers and RVs may not be located at a residence from November to April of any given year.
At last Tuesdayís meeting, the amended bylaw passed third reading, which residents heard about and took to Facebook to voice their opposition.
As far as the town can tell, the bylaw has been in affect since 1960, and was amended recently to allow residents another month of storing their trailers in town.
The current bylaw is a section of the land use bylaw and it states, ìNo person shall keep or permit in any part of a yard in any residential district a vehicle or a vehicle with a trailer attached, loaded or unloaded, of a maximum weight in excess of 4,500 kilograms.î
One reason residents may not have previously been aware of this bylaw is because it is only enforced on a complaint basis.
In 2007, councillor Lionel Cherniwchan stated during a council meeting that the bylaw wasnít being enforced.
Today, he doesnít see trailers in his neighborhood.
ìThe bylaw is there for someone whose view is being impeded by a fifth wheel,î he said. ìItís on a complaint basis.î
He did however acknowledge that other parts of town may have a problem.
ìI imagine other places in town there could be,î he said. ìI guess the bylaw officer could go around town to anyone who has a trailer to let them know they have to move it, and if you donít move it, there will be a citation.î
Cherniwchan stated that buying property in town has restrictions.
ìJust because you own property in town doesnít mean you can do whatever you want. There are certain rules and regulations that you have to follow,î he said.
