SMACKS OF NOTHING MORE THAN A "MONEY GRAB"
During the last week of February, 2017 approximately 300 Property Owners in Lac Ste. Anne County unexpectedly received letters from the Lac Ste. Anne County (LSAC) Administration notifying they would be required to apply for an RV authorization if; (1) parking an RV on vacant residential land, (2) parking more than 1 RV on a property with a residence, (3) having multiple RVs on site for more than 72 hours.
The annual fee for a permit for “the right” to park an RV is $500.00, should any of the above apply. In addition, affected property owners will be responsible to pay the yearly Solid Waste Utility fee of over $200.00. If property owners do not apply for a permit and pay the $500.00 annual fee, they will be subject to an initial fine of up to $1,000.00 with a subsequent offense being up to $4,000.00.
Also note, undeveloped residential lots are currently assessed a tax mill rate that is more than double that of developed lots, effectively setting a higher rate of property taxes on undeveloped residential lots.
With the letter, LSAC also included a rather complex form - SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATION RV Use, which is to be used for the permit application process. Also included in the package was a copy of the eight page LSAC Bylaw #23-2015, which is the Bylaw to Establish Licensing and Regulation of Concerts and Special Events. You may think this all sounds confusing, and that is because it is. LSAC appears to be shoe-horning in an existing bylaw to establish a permit process and set fees for the use of RVs on vacant properties.
Not only was it a shock to receive this from LSAC just before the start of the RV season, but the permit process and their justification is convoluted, lacks proper or complete information, is confusing and smacks of nothing more than a “money grab”.
The intentional timing of this initiative could not have been more inappropriate given that both Division 4 and Division 5 are not currently represented by a counselor, due to vacancies. Affected rate payers in these divisions have no reasonable avenue to vent their objections and concerns. As it stands, not a lot of thought or research went into this initiative.
For the County to suggest that an annual fee of $500.00 per trailer is affordable, is preposterous, especially given the economy is hurting and Albertans are paying more taxes (including the carbon tax) than they ever have.
ADDING YET ANOTHER TAX OR USER FEE IS UNDERHANDED AND UNCARING!
In discussion with the County’s Manager of Planning and Development, he indicated that as of the end of February he fielded over 200 calls and numerous emails from irate and frustrated rate payers. LSAC does not seem to care how this affects rate payers. I attended the March 01, 2017 Municipal Planning Commission Meeting with Council, where the Planning Manager reported that the majority of feedback he received was “negative”.
In discussion with the County’s Manager of Planning and Development, he indicated that as of the end of February he fielded over 200 calls and numerous emails from irate and frustrated rate payers. LSAC does not seem to care how this affects rate payers. I attended the March 01, 2017 Municipal Planning Commission Meeting with Council, where the Planning Manager reported that the majority of feedback he received was “negative”.
LSAC Mayor’s uncaring and flippant response was “of course we expected that”, end of discussion.
On behalf of other rate payers affected, my request to LSAC is shelve this contentious and divisive initiative till after the Municipal election in October this year. For the sake of diplomacy and fairness, an issue that affects such a large group of rate payers should be dealt with when there is a full slate of counselors. Also, delaying this will provide the County more time to develop an RV use program that is reasonable, understandable, affordable and acceptable to those affected.
If you have thoughts or concerns with this latest LSAC initiative, Please contact the County CAO – Mike Primeau, Manager of Planning and Development – Matthew Ferris, Mayor Hegy, or your Counselor (if you have one).
On behalf of other rate payers affected, my request to LSAC is shelve this contentious and divisive initiative till after the Municipal election in October this year. For the sake of diplomacy and fairness, an issue that affects such a large group of rate payers should be dealt with when there is a full slate of counselors. Also, delaying this will provide the County more time to develop an RV use program that is reasonable, understandable, affordable and acceptable to those affected.
If you have thoughts or concerns with this latest LSAC initiative, Please contact the County CAO – Mike Primeau, Manager of Planning and Development – Matthew Ferris, Mayor Hegy, or your Counselor (if you have one).
County Phone Number: 1-780-785-3411 or 1-866-880-5722.
Leo Blais
Leo Blais
now they want more money for there wasted money
ReplyDeleteSo if we are planning say a family reunion, and are expecting out of town guests, who will be bringing an RV for sleeping accommandations, someone would have to pay the 500$ ?
ReplyDeleteThis might seem preposterous but rural subdivisions benefit from not having lots used as recreational property. Having rv trailers with no intention to build hurts property owners land values. This ensures that people are using their land within the bylaws. If you want to stay in a campground then pay the fees and stay in a campground.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more!!! Many of us would never have built our home in a campground. These are our homes and our communities WHERE WE LIVE! The $500 should be going to the homeowners who have to put up with this because the County refuses to enforce their own bylaws. I think most people would be singing a different tune if half the lots in their neighbourhood at home turned into RV lots.
DeleteI agree with this!!
DeleteThis is fine if your subdivision has those requirements but that should be on a community by community basis not county wide. Those of us in Division 5 that have no such requirements and support the local businesses as lake lot owners, now we are being forced to decide where to move our recreational dollars...it won't be in Lac St Anne County if this charge goes through.
DeleteSeems excessive considering I pay $330 for a year at a fully secure and maintained storage yard. And as far as waste disposal, most still have to haul waste out and pay when at the facility where they dump. No one is getting septics or holding tanks pumped out by county why should they be able to charge for it. Complete nonsensical manipulation, and another way to pay for that extravagant new building.
ReplyDeleteI was shocked with the action of the county. As a non resident, I have no access to local papers. I am in full agreement to put this off till fall. I think I should have been fore warned. What "democracy"???
ReplyDeleteAs a home owner in a subdivision that was supposed to be zoned as residential, not for recreational use or to park trailers and camp on....it is frustrating that the lots around me are being used for a camp ground. As a home owner it drops my property value and makes my year round home a frustrating place to live in the summer. By having this in place it still does not stop this from happening bylaws should be enforced and land should be sold as it was determined to be.
ReplyDeleteI will be listing our recreational lot, as will several of the residents in our weekend retreat neighbourhood. If you want to see the value of property drop, let's see what happens when 25% of a neighborhood goes up for sale, and the people who would have spent money locally take there money elsewhere. I feel for the lake businesses who rely on lake lot owners to support their seasonal business.
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree campers should not be aloud in residential subdivisions. It is a residential subdivision not a recreational subdivision. This is where I built my home to live not to be disturbed by campers. If I wanted neighbours who have fires and such I would be at the lake.
ReplyDeleteWho pays the taxes not the people with travel trailers they are not taxed only the land is taxed. Even though some of them have $75,000 dollar trailers on the land.
I'm thinking that somebody working in the county office has family that owns an RV storage and are trying to get them business. Lac Ste Anne County always did suck big time.
ReplyDeleteWe are not residents of lac Ste Anne county. We are long time friends of residents that are though. To charge for family get togethers is ridiculous. If empty lots are being used as storage lots or campgrounds. There needs to be a time limit to build once lot is purchased. This will also help bring an end to pocket padders who by a lot to resell in 5 years. Excessive amounts of rv's stored in a residential area needs to be controlled. Set standards for the recreational lake lots and leave alone. To say campers devalue residential area, and this is a money grab could be true.
ReplyDeleteThe part I don't understand. Which is happening in the subdivision our friends are in. Is the coming and going of the people who are truckers. Coming into the division using it as their own industrial area. We are not taking about some custom fancy long haul units. Plain old tri drives, pickers, and trailers with loads. These folks don't even own these trucks. They're not paying any extra taxes, or fees for special event permits. If property values and desirability is an issue with rv's. What is it with this happening? Why are they not getting notices or paying special event permits? Our friends have spoke with the county countless times on this. The claim is nothing can be done about the trucks. Yet they can pick on rv's. I wish the residents the best of luck! in turning Lac Ste Anne into county it can be.
I hope consideration is provided for the environmental impacts of increasing human populations and stress on the wildlife populations. It is nice to see families coming to the lake to be in nature and the waters. I hope in the discussions around economic development and recreation there will be funding from taxes and fees put aside to ensure we are implementing our responsibilities as caretakers of the lands, waters and wildlife.
ReplyDelete