In a significant move intended to streamline operations and align with the town’s bylaws, the Council of Carstairs has unveiled a comprehensive overhaul to the municipal campground policy.
The town-owned Carstairs Municipal Campground, a tranquil retreat nestled on Highway 2A, will be impacted by these changes.
This move is aimed at making the campground a more peaceful, secure, and better-regulated space for all.
The foremost alteration to the previous policy involves the removal of the reservation segment that allowed campers to book their spots in advance.
While the previous policy required reservations to be submitted in writing and then confirmed by the town, Mayor Lance Colby clarified that reservations were never actually taken at the facility. “They never really did take reservations,” said the mayor, who expressed that the new policy merely affirms the longstanding practice of the campground operating on a first-come, first-served basis.
Changes have also been made to the registration protocol at the Carstairs Municipal Campground.
The previous regulations stated that unpaid patrons occupying a site would be requested to make a payment by the appointed operational service directors or town staff. Failure to comply would lead to eviction. Under the new policy, immediate eviction is the consequence of failure to register and pay for an individual item.
On the subject of noise control, the updated regulations now decree quiet hours from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekdays and 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. This adjustment, brought forward an hour and a half earlier from the previous 10:30 p.m. start, is an attempt to adhere to the town’s noise bylaw more closely.
Mayor Colby explained, “We wanted to streamline the policy to have it follow, to conform, our noise bylaw.”
Campground operators and visitors alike will have to respect these new quiet hours, encouraging a peaceful and serene camping experience for all patrons.
These changes reflect a move towards greater control over the campground environment and show the council’s commitment to ensuring a comfortable experience for all.
Simultaneously, the council has also green-lighted minor updates to the bylaws affecting the residential community, industrial district, and commercial district standards.
These changes now include a specific definition of a ‘pest,’ along with rules against the open storage of industrial fluids such as engine oil, brake fluid, or antifreeze. The council also issued a prohibition on the proliferation of pests likely to spread disease or cause damage.
Mayor Colby indicated this thorough revision of bylaws and policies is part of an ongoing process. “We are going through all our bylaws and policies, looking at them and word-smithing to make sure they all conform,” he said.
These developments underline the council’s dedication to the preservation and improvement of public spaces like the Carstairs Municipal Campground.