OLDS – Town council has passed changes to three bylaws in order to deal with homelessness.
Those decisions were made during council’s June 10 meeting.
During his introduction of the proposed changes, chief administrative officer (CAO) Brent Williams said homelessness is currently not a big issue in town, but there’s concern it could become greater.
“Overarching this, of course, is the rise of people experiencing homelessness, which is something we have been fortunate to not have proliferate to a large extent. However, we're expecting this issue to grow,” he said.
The greatest debate came during discussion about the changes that were proposed to town’s Land Use Bylaw.
Municipal planner Kyle Sloan said camping regulations would be changed.
He said the proposed amendment would say that “a holiday trailer, motorhome, camper or other recreational vehicle parked in a residential land use district may be used for living and sleeping accommodation for a maximum period of 30 days per annum.
“Temporary living accommodation in a recreational vehicle or tent is prohibited in all other districts, except as designated by council,” he said.
Sloan said when the change was advertised earlier, he received a call from one resident who was concerned the change would allow camping in residential districts and streets.
“I informed them that recreational vehicles parked on public roads are not regulated by the land use bylaw, as this bylaw regulates properties,” Sloan said.
Williams said the changes to the Land Use Bylaw (LUB) exclude camping in non-residential areas. Prior to passage of the amending bylaw, camping was not excluded in those areas.
Also, temporary living accommodations, vehicles and tents are now prohibited on town-owned property.
Williams said the town’s Community Standards Bylaw was changed to define open spaces.
Language in that bylaw also now matches the language of LUB regarding camping on non-residential land and town-owned land.
The Traffic Bylaw also now includes a clause prohibiting sleeping in vehicles on town-owned property.
“All those are related to specific instances that we have encountered the last two years with the traffic bylaw, most notably Rotary Park, with the non-residential issue,” Williams said.
Williams said by making these changes, the town is being “proactive” regarding potential homelessness issues.
During debate, it was noted that people often stay recreational vehicles, etc. for short periods at places like the Olds Regional Exhibition or Olds College.
In the end, council revised the provision calling on council to approve temporary accommodation in various areas of town.
Instead, the CAO or his designate will now be able to make that call.
