The town is getting some interest regarding last month’s lodging home bylaw.
During January’s regular meeting of Antigonish Town Council, members offered a public hearing on and then gave second reading to a bylaw regarding lodging homes, or homes with five or more bedrooms with the rooms being rented out separately. The by-law prohibits any more of those homes going up and requires current lodging homes to register with the town.
Antigonish Mayor Laurie Boucher said staff fielded a number of questions so far, with one landlord in particular wanting to get a jump on making sure his units are up to code. About 90 such structures exist in the town.
Boucher said it’s a popular topic, particularly for university town, calling it a balancing act between providing good, safe housing and also maintaining the integrity of neighbourhoods.