Image: Google Maps

Dale Boyd

Times-Chronicle

Neighbours of a 37th street home just outside of the Town of Osoyoos boundaries are rallying against an application to the regional district for a temporary use permit allowing vacation rentals on the property.

Regional District of Okanagan-Similkimeen (RDOS) staff are recommending the board grant the permit for short-term rentals at the 3829 37th St. property at the July 2 board meeting.

However, neighbours allege the property has already operated as a vacation rental last summer and is operating again this year. Neighbours also expressed concerns with excessive noise,”party clientele,” littering and unruly behaviour.

The property lies just outside of the Town of Osoyoos falling under the jurisdiction of the RDOS Area A, where district staff noted there is no excessive noise bylaw.

Neighbours David Ryan and Donna White say the owners of the home are not present on the property like other vacation rentals in the area.

“Over the last year, groups of people show up for several days, are generally loud, often behave unpleasantly and have little, if any, concern or the respect for the neighbours and neighbourhood in which they are temporarily residing,” Ryan and White wrote.

A flood of letters to the RDOS from neighbours follow calling the property a “nightmare” to live next to and alleging constant excessive noise until 3 a.m. throughout the previous summer — or “one summer from proverbial hell,” as one neighbour wrote.

“The owners of this property do not live in Osoyoos so there is no monitoring of events or party’s (sic) at this location resulting in multitudes of people using the house in excess of a single family dwelling raising safety concerns for the surrounding properties and residents,” wrote another neighbour.

Despite over 10 letters from neighbours against the proposed vacation rental permit, RDOS staff are recommending granting the temporary use permit Thursday under conditions that owners Richard and Maria Law fix deficiencies which came out of health and safety inspection on Jan. 30, 2020 including two more smoke alarms, a handrail for stairs, self closing gates for the pool on the property and a privacy screen or fence to be installed around the pool area.

The RDOS are expected make a decision at the July 2 board meeting.