HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2013-11-20, Page 3James Street
business facing
zoning woes
Gerard Creces
Clinton News -Record
Which came first, the business or
the neighbourhood?
Residents of James Street have been
expressing their concern over
Boughen Dynamic Design - an under-
ground drilling services business that
has been operating out of the location
for three years now.
The issue is one of noise for resi-
dents in the neighbourhood, who
turned out to speak at the November
12 meeting of Committee of the
Whole.
The problem stems from zoning.
The area is currently zoned as resi-
dential, with Boughen Dynamic
Design being the one exception to the
area. The business' previous owner
had been absent from the building for
an extended period due to illness, and
residents are claiming this falls under
the legal non -conforming provision in
the zoning bylaw that states if a busi-
ness is closed for a 12 -month period,
they lose the privilege and the zoning
returns to residential R1.
"All we want to do is carry on with
what the property has been since
1960," said owner Jim Boughen. "It's a
place of business. Period."
Neighbour Dagmar Crawford said
the next door business has had a neg-
ative effect on property values, putting
the figure for her own house at
$40,000 less than what the worth
should be. However, Jerry Boughen
noted when they purchased the prop-
erty, they did substantial cleanup,
increasing the value of the place and
those around it by proxy.
Boughen pays commercial taxes on
the property - a key factor in deter-
mining what use is justified, accord-
ing to some councilors.
"Obviously we think it's a business
if we've been charging them business
tax for years," said Coun. Dan
Colquhoun.
Still, the issue of 12 -months of inop-
eration will be examined to see if that
does render the property in violation
of the zoning bylaw.
CAO Peggy Van Meirlo-West sug-
gested a comprehensive report on the
history of the property and the zoning
should be done before taking the mat-
ter to lawyers, however, council will
seek advice from solicitor Greg Stew-
art as well.
Coun. Brian Barnim asked for a
timeline on the project, saying it
would be too hard for people to walk
away from the meeting not knowing
what to expect. A report will be forth-
coming in December.
Asthma'
•We can help.
Call
THEI
LUNG ASSOCIATION-
When
when you can't breathe,
nothing else matters...
Take the -; :
Scenic Rouge,
Maintaining a healthy weight
means eating healthy foods
and taking the long way home.
Nva
directions?�
N Tdfkt�
�''�, Your
Iacror
__ 1
mow.porropad�l
HAIRCUTS
NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED
DA ppiER Tittlyt:
PROFESSIONAL HAIR STYLES FOR GUYS
WALK-IN CONVENIENCE,
AFFORDABLE PRICES
MAIN ST. CLINTON
OPEN TUES-SAT 519 -606 -HAIR (4247)
Wednesday, November 20, 2013 • News Record 3
Hospital FouriClhti,rl
tij
Cities 1 inr t
Gerard Creces Clinton News Record
Orange alert
The Huron County Orange Lodge donated $1,000 to the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation Saturday, Nov.
16. The funds will be put toward the hospital's current project - installing a nurse call system in patient
rooms. The Orange Lodge regularly donates to area hospital campaigns, including the CT scanner in
Goderich and the medication dispenser in Seaforth. Pictured, Art Bolton, Charles Reid, Larry Dupee and
Alex Nethery make the donation Saturday morning. Receiving on behalf of the CPHF is Darren Stevenson.
Seaforth Main Street
Welcomes You!
A
Ssh p Seaforth
op Local
Stpop with
Shop
Money
foray op
eryone
on your List!
we have the spirit