Proposed home hair salon gets second chance

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The motion to reconsider the hair salon was brought forward by Coun. Scott Anderson who visited the property owner and did a walk-through of the former basement suite.

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“This is a individual who cannot work in a standard place because of injuries and I understand there are other issues with other neighbors around but those issues don’t have a bearing on this particular thing,” he said. “I am completely satisfied that she has followed the letter of the law and the spirit of the law in regard to this and to confirm that I received a response from Mr. Gaucher.”

He then read out a letter from the city’s manager of bylaw services confirming rules have been followed and previous complaints from neighbours have since been resolved.

“The parking issue at that address has been resolved through the use of landscaping to prevent visitors from parking on the xeriscape front yard. Bylaw compliance last spoke to the property owner on Oct. 29 and at the time staff were advised that the suite has been decommissioned and the business has been closed pending the receipt of a business licence. The property owner did advise that a boarder who is a family member is staying in the home,” the letter said, adding bylaw officers found no evidence of business activity when visiting the site.

But Coun. Akbal Mund noted the applicant was clearly told at least twice about the rules that needed to be followed.

“Obviously none of these rules were followed — that’s why the neighbourhood came out and sent most of the councillors letters on why the neighbour was not following what was declared in our public hearing,” Mund said. “They attended the [Advisory Planning Committee] meeting. They attended the council meeting and still chose not to do anything until bylaw starting showing up, then it became ‘Well OK I got to change this, I got to tell my tenant to move out; I got to get a business licence.”’

Anderson defended the applicant and said there was confusion surrounding the business licence.

“She showed me a letter that’s not entirely clear especially if you are a layman and not familiar with procedures because it implied, without saying, that you have to take these steps in order to be in compliance. So she did contact the city and did get an assurance over the phone that she was in compliance and she thought that it meant that she had a licence,” Anderson said.

Coun. Brian Quiring said he believes the applicant rectified the situation.

“I think that they have come around. I think that she has understood how serious the situation was, and I feel that by denying this it’s pretty heavyhanded because it is going to have a significant impact on her financially,” Quiring said.

Coun. Kari Gares, who advised the applicant to use plants to prevent vehicles from parking in the front yard, agreed.

“The bottom line is, is that she satisfied the requirements despite the fact that there may be some misinformation along the way as Coun. Mund has mentioned. But I agree she’s followed everything that we asked her to do. Did she do it in a timely fashion? No, that’s on her. But has she satisfied them? Yes she has so that’s why I’m in favour of this motion,” Gares said.

Council voted 6-1 in favour of the motion with Mund opposed.