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Vernon council to discuss rescinding fines for ALR RV dwellings

Lee and Sondra Watkins’ $2,800 in fines from the city could be rescinded at council
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A petition to allow a Vernon family to live on a farm in a fifth wheel has garnered 5,463 signatures as of Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023. The fines will be rescinded at the Monday, Dec. 11 council meeting. (change.org photo)

After Vernon council’s recent approval to allow secondary residents to dwell on Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), a councillor is putting forward a motion to rescind fines for one property owner.

Coun. Akbal Mund will be bringing forth the motion at the Monday, Dec. 11 council meeting.

Lee and Sondra Watkins, who went public with their battle with the city to keep living in their RV on a four-acre family property in the Blue Jay neighbourhood of Vernon (6530 Eagle Road), back in October, will have their $2,800 in fines rescinded if Mund’s motion is approved.

Previously, the Watkins had been talking with the city to extend their stay in the RV as long as possible, but started receiving fines from bylaw over the last several months.

“We wish to continue to fight this for many other properties and people in the same situation,” the Watkins said in a change.org petition that has garnered more than 5,300 signatures since it was launched on Oct. 12.

At the last meeting, council passed an option to allow landowners to use RVs or other vehicles, without local constraints. This motion by Coun. Mund will see a rectification and a final victory for the Watkins.

Vernon’s council meeting will take place on Monday, Dec. 11. You can read the agenda here.

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Bowen Assman

About the Author: Bowen Assman

I joined The Morning Star team in January 2023 as a reporter. Before that, I spent 10 months covering sports in Kelowna.
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