The owner of a horse and carriage service in Charlottetown needs a new home or may be forced to shut it down.
Sarah Greenan has been operating Emerald Isle Carriage Tours for nearly a decade in the city but was left without a base of operations last year when the barn she was using to stable her horses was torn down at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Greenan says the only option now is to truck the animals in from her home in Crapaud, 37 kilometres away.
"I really have no option but to shut down the business,'' Greenan said Wednesday. "If we have to truck horses every day from Crapaud, it's too hard. It can't be done.''
Greenan says she requires secure parking for the wagon itself, wagons with expensive parts that can't be exposed to weather. She could build her own barn at the CDP but that's an expense she says she can't afford. She's welcome to use the existing barns but Greenan says the stalls are designed for 800-pound horses whereas hers are 2,000 pounds, on average.
"You put my horse in one of their stalls and they have to stick their head out to even fit in the stall.''
Even stabling the horses at the CDP came with challenges. Greenan says it takes 90 minutes to walk to and from the track each day.
"That's an hour and a half paying staff, without hope of recovering that.''
RELATED: RED SHORES OPEN TO WORKING OUT SOLUTION
Greenan would like to establish a base of operations somewhere in the downtown and has talked to MLAs and city staff but can't find any traction.
"I'm not looking for money. I'm just looking for a location . . . it's frustrating.''
Greenan employs five full-time drivers and operates between June and October although the tours also operate on days when cruise chips are in town. She has 80 people booked on Sunday when the Holland America's Maasdam makes its first visit of the season.
Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee says the business is an asset to the tourism market in the city and wants to see it continue. He added that Greenan has made two requests to staff.
Lee says Greenan asked if the city has a spot to stable the horses. The answer is no. She also asked if the city would guarantee that if she buys a piece of property it will rezone it or grant a variance. The mayor says she has to follow the process like everyone else.
Greenan first needs to identify a property. If the zoning permits a horse barn a permit should be no problem, Lee said. If zoning doesn't permit that use, the public needs to be informed before council could vote on a rezoning and that takes time.
"For the city or council to grant any type of approval without going through the process would be contrary to every rule in the book and that's something, quite frankly, I'm not prepared to do,'' Lee said.
The owner of a horse and carriage service in Charlottetown needs a new home or may be forced to shut it down.
Sarah Greenan has been operating Emerald Isle Carriage Tours for nearly a decade in the city but was left without a base of operations last year when the barn she was using to stable her horses was torn down at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Greenan says the only option now is to truck the animals in from her home in Crapaud, 37 kilometres away.
"I really have no option but to shut down the business,'' Greenan said Wednesday. "If we have to truck horses every day from Crapaud, it's too hard. It can't be done.''
Greenan says she requires secure parking for the wagon itself, wagons with expensive parts that can't be exposed to weather. She could build her own barn at the CDP but that's an expense she says she can't afford. She's welcome to use the existing barns but Greenan says the stalls are designed for 800-pound horses whereas hers are 2,000 pounds, on average.
"You put my horse in one of their stalls and they have to stick their head out to even fit in the stall.''
Even stabling the horses at the CDP came with challenges. Greenan says it takes 90 minutes to walk to and from the track each day.
"That's an hour and a half paying staff, without hope of recovering that.''
RELATED: RED SHORES OPEN TO WORKING OUT SOLUTION
Greenan would like to establish a base of operations somewhere in the downtown and has talked to MLAs and city staff but can't find any traction.
"I'm not looking for money. I'm just looking for a location . . . it's frustrating.''
Greenan employs five full-time drivers and operates between June and October although the tours also operate on days when cruise chips are in town. She has 80 people booked on Sunday when the Holland America's Maasdam makes its first visit of the season.
Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee says the business is an asset to the tourism market in the city and wants to see it continue. He added that Greenan has made two requests to staff.
Lee says Greenan asked if the city has a spot to stable the horses. The answer is no. She also asked if the city would guarantee that if she buys a piece of property it will rezone it or grant a variance. The mayor says she has to follow the process like everyone else.
Greenan first needs to identify a property. If the zoning permits a horse barn a permit should be no problem, Lee said. If zoning doesn't permit that use, the public needs to be informed before council could vote on a rezoning and that takes time.
"For the city or council to grant any type of approval without going through the process would be contrary to every rule in the book and that's something, quite frankly, I'm not prepared to do,'' Lee said.
Red Shores says it is looking at potential solutions for a horse carriage business in Charlottetown.
Sarah Greenan, who owns Emerald Isle Carriage Tours, told The Guardian on Wednesday that she needs a new base of operations to continue operating in the downtown.
The barn she was stabling horses in at the Charlottetown Driving Park was torn down last year and Greenan says existing facilities are too small for her horses.
Carla Bourque, who handles communications for Red Shores, confirmed the business was not asked to leave the city track.
"We have had brief discussions with Emerald Isle on other possible solutions on the Red Shores' property (but) nothing definitive at this time,'' Bourque said. "Red Shores is open to working towards a solution that is acceptable with all parties involved.''
