Proposed home business sparks neighbourly dispute

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During the council meeting, Bomba claimed his neighbor’s suite was illegal, stating that when it was built “they tried to put another parking spot on the additional front lawn.”

The applicant said the suite was not illegal and was registered.

Last year, the City of Vernon put a stop order on the parking spot and advised the applicant they were not permitted any more parking spaces.

According to the city, in order for the property to be re-zoned into a home-based business, the suite would need to be decommissioned and not used to house residents.

“Since parking cannot be accommodated for both uses, staff discussed that with the applicant and said that it’s either or, it can’t be both. The applicant elected to decommission the suite and pursue the re-zoning,” Kim Flick, director of community development said.

Carolyn Lee, the applicant for the re-zoning, told city council that a home-based business would allow her to regain her career as a hairstylist, after a devastating injury limited her ability to work.

“I had a serious back injury in November and that’s allowed me not to work the same. I have to rest every two hours, so it’s changed everything. I don’t want to give up my career as a hairstylist,” she said.

She said clients have not parked at the spot since receiving the stop order from the city, but Bomba claimed that was not true, based on what he referred to as video evidence.

“Since May 8 2019, which is just over two months, they have parked in that area 21 times and most recently on July 3,” he said.

For home-based businesses, current bylaws prohibit more than three clients at a time, but city staff recommended a restricted covenant be imposed to prohibit more than one client at a time.

The covenant would also limit the number of non-residential employees to two at the home.

During the public hearing, Bomba told council he is not convinced that the rules at the property will be followed, especially since the applicant already failed to follow current bylaws.

“Our main concern here is the fact that they already are not following the current bylaw city rules for the parking which they were notified and made aware of in 2018. So, I’m wondering why would that change if a home-based business was approved?” he said.

Before coming to a vote, Coun. Akbal Mund and Coun. Kari Gares said they support the application as long as the secondary suite gets decommissioned.

Mayor Victor Cumming pointed out the problem of parking spans throughout the neighbourhood, and isn’t solely limited to the applicant

“Quite a few properties there in and around that house have created an extra parking spot, and it’s for boats, it’s for an RV, it’s for whatever,” he said.

But Coun. Brian Quiring said while he is in support of the application, the complaints are concerning.

“I have a real concern that customers are going to be parking on the front yard, and that suite is going to be back in business, I really have a concern about that,” he said.

“It just doesn’t seem quite fair, we have a neighbour that is quite adamant that they are not adhering to the bylaw,” he said.

In the end, council unanimously supported third reading for the application.