Property Standards By-Law needed in Innisfil

Dear editor,

Re: Some residents may soon have to find other parking arrangements

Three cheers for Innisfil council members as they work on a Property Standards By-law!

Some comments for them, as they deliberate. First, make the by-law an effective one - don't water it down so that it is found invalid in trying to enforce the improvement of the appearance of our town. Ensure that the by-law is enforceable and can be upheld in a court of law by using commonly accepted definitions for the terms used in the by law - such definitions are often found in provincial legislation and have been upheld by the courts.

Secondly, because Innisfil is an urban/rural mixture of land usage, different policies are needed in urban areas than are needed in the rural sections. Thus, the most stringent policies of the by-law should be applicable to the more urbanized area of our town. This can be accomplished by making certain regulations under the new by-law effective only in certain land use zones as recognized in the town's Zoning by-law.

I noticed, as I travelled around Innisfil a lot in the fall, a lot of my travel on foot, that our town really needs such legislation to establish a common basis for the standards by which all properties are maintained.

Every citizen should support this proposed bylaw because it will help maintain our property values, enhance streetscape, and give visual enjoyment to our residents and visitors.

The presence of unlicensed motor vehicles, inappropriately parked school busses, truck tractor cabs, boats, piles of brush, debris, etc., con tribute to an unkempt and uncared for look of our streets and homes. Property owners should care about what they have to look at, and what their neighbours and visitors have to enjoy visually as well.

But, Council members, don't try to distinguish between boats and blocks of wood and loaded boat trailers in driveways. A boat is a boat. A boat is a "vessel" under The Canada Shipping Act. A boat is an operable vessel only in water.

The placement of a license on a boat trailer does not make it a vehicle. Vehicles are able to be driven on roads - farm tractors, cars, trucks, bicycles, motor cycles, snowmobiles, etc. A trailer, even with a license, can't be driven - it has to be "towed" by a vehicle.

A loaded boat trailer in a driveway is definitely not a vehicle.

I support the development of an effective Property Standards By-law for Innisfil! It is long overdue.

George D. Timpson, Innisfil