Anyone hoping to enjoy unlimited stay aboard their sailboat, houseboat or other marine craft moored along the Squamish Oceanfront may not have that opportunity for much longer.
Concerns over liability at a precarious Cattermole Slough dock has already led to the eviction of boats moored there, and on July 13 councillors wanted to know what they could do to control duration of stays and dumping of human waste in other moorage areas, such as the Mamquam Blind Channel.
"I strongly support a no poop zone and think maybe we need to advertise this with promotions and social marketing," said Coun. Patricia Heintzman. "How do we keep people from pooing in their own water?"
Real estate manager Neil Plumb said there were only about seven vessels per summer that caused concerns, leading Heintzman to ask whether policies should be in place before the problem grows.
"Should we wait for critical mass or move now?" she asked.
Following on a council request for information last year, staff told council a federally-mandated Boating Restriction Regulation (BRR) would give Squamish the power to limit or prohibit certain types of boats to specific areas, mandate lengths of stay and enforce speed limits.
It took Vancouver four years to get the BBR - from 2001 to 2005 - and the city was the first in Canada to achieve the power over anchoring.
Vancouver's regulations now limit length of stay to 14 of 30 days during high season and 21 of 40 days during low season.
The Canada Shipping Agreement already has a regulation in place regarding dumping of waste, said Coun. Doug Race.
"The current regulation is that you can't pump out your holding tank less than three miles off shore," he said.
Limiting lengths of stay would impact residents who live on boats in the Cattermole Slough and Mamquam Blind Channel, particularly during the summer months.
Off the end of the dock is a floating work of art - a wooden houseboat with intricate carvings belonging to Josh Melinger, who was raised in Squamish and recently returned with his wife.
Melinger's houseboat project has received widespread attention from locals who want to step aboard for a closer look. He said he has aspirations of turning it into a restaurant or harbour cruise business.
Cattermole Slough neighbouring property owner Peter Legere, a self proclaimed "Consulting Visionary" and "Guerilla Planner," is trying to save a dock he and his friends built five years ago on what is now Squamish Oceanfront Development Corporation (SODC) lands.
The SODC issued a notice of trespass, and following meeting request, the SODC extended the eviction date until the end of July.
"It's unacceptable to allow this potential for personal injury, property and environmental liability for the owners," said SODC planner Trevor Dunn.
Legere and Melinger said they're frustrated.
"It's not hurting anyone," said Legere. "It's right in line with what they all say they want for the downtown and SODC lands, revitalization."
Legere said he, Melinger and others who live off the dock aren't the type of people who would sue SODC if they got hurt.
Legere's promise isn't enough to convince SODC not to issue the notice of trespass, said Dunn.
The other portion of his dock is on Crown land, and would be regulated by the BRR should the municipality commit to the enforcement.
Legere and Melinger aren't the only ones who will be affected by the reinforcement.
Chelsea Kearns, who lives in Whistler during the year, often spends a month or two drifting around the Oceanfront waters for two months of the summer, spending her time and money in Squamish.
"It's an incredible way to spend vacation," said Kearns. "Squamish is such a great town to hang around in and cruise the waters."
She said the harbour enforcement wouldn't be a deal breaker, but she likely wouldn't spend nearly as much time in the area.
"If they were to enforce the number of days per month, we might just take off for another part of Howe Sound," said Kearns. "It would be too bad."
Council plans to discuss BRR enforcement in more detail at an upcoming Committee of the Whole meeting.
