Comment from email

Greetings;

I’m e-mailing you as I understand you’re our representative for North Shuswap.

I’m a new investor in St. Ives and I have a concern over the new regulations on buoy applications.

I’ve been communicating with CSRD to better understand where things are today on these new regulations..

From these conversations I’ve presented questions and possible solutions to CSRD as I believe there should be further discussions to better serve all current and future property owners in having equitable access to the main resource “the lake” that we all use and pay for.

What I now know:

1. All current buoys that were in place prior to the dead line in the spring 2009 can remain on the lake those that don’t meet the new requirement of being owned by lake front or semi lake front properties are now grandfathered in.
2. Each lake lot owners can have a dock, their own boat launch, and two buoys.
3. Applying for a new buoy can only be done if you’re a lake front or semi lake front property owner.
4. CSRD response for a public launch site location that is closes to St Ives, was Magna Bay, and added you can not park a boat trailer there.
5. I asked why these regulations were put in place, CSRD stated it was to control the number of buoy placements.
6. I now understand from CSRD that current buoys can be bought and sold knowing that some may be registered and some may not be.
7. I asked do I have to register a buoy if I was able to purchase an existing one that may not be registered, the answer it was not requirement to do so.

This is what I’m hearing in the local grapevine communications:

1. The cut off date for new buoy placement created a rush for property owners to put one or more in, which seems to have been counter productive outcome to the idea of controlling the numbers of placements.
2. As some community areas are not currently zoned its being asked what legal right does any governing authority have in placing regulation controls in those areas?
3. As a new investor to the area I find it interesting to observe the dividing effect this seems to have had on communities, into those that have and those that don’t have equal lake access.
4. We all pay the same mill tax rate but don’t share in equal access, should that change? Example: Should BC assessment be looking at property values differently for those that have convenient lake access and those that do not?
5. Will these new regulations have a negative effect to the area, as it’s not hard to see that if you make it difficult for people to use this great lake resource then they will most likely invest elsewhere.

Suggestions and comments for equable lake access:

1. Have all buoys registered so that there is a clear record of ownership and therefore the sale of buoys can be done securely so the buyer will know their investment is protected from disqualification. I asked CSRD how they would know what buoys were in place before the cut off date, they stated photographic evidence they have on record would be used.
2. Having all buoys owners pay a yearly fee may motivate those that have more than one a reason to sell. I would also suggest in this case that those that don’t have one and don’t meet the new reg. have the right to first refusal that could be taken from a waiting list. Or that these buoys be automatically turned into a community only use buoy.
3. There should be a sort term plan and long term plan in providing equal lake access. I’m suggesting that each community have a number of specially marked community buoys in place for day use only. In the long term each community should have public launch access.
4. Suggest that buoy fees be used to support new public launch sites.
5. As an example: In following CSRD Magna Bay public launch a site location direction as the closes to St Ives, which apparently does not allow trailer parking, would result in taking an hour to launch, on the other hand they can walk to the beach in 5 min’s. Would you considered that a reasonable expectation? Using this launch site means a 20 min drive to launch, return to St Ives to drop off trailer and return to launch site. Now multiply that by all those that are in the same position and I think it’s easy to say there’s going to be a problem. This also presents a possible safety issue as I’m told the lake weather can change quickly, so leaving the boat with say at worst with a minor while the adult is busy getting the trailer is at the very least disconcerting that most people would share in.

If there is any clarification that could be given I’m open to hear from you as my area representative. I’m sure there are good alternative yet to be explored and we are hoping you can shed some light on what is being proposed in supporting equitable lake access for all property owners.