SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Coun. Barb Ramsay has received several complaints about a car detailing shop on North Market Street.
"This is a residential area and it's causing a disturbance to the residents who live nearby," she said.
Billy MacKendrick, the shop's owner, had applied for a conditional-use permit to operate it out of his home's garage. The application was denied by the city's technical services staff, which MacKendrick appealed, leading Summerside council to discuss it during a committee's meeting at city hall on Sept. 1.
Ramsay noted she has received "very loud" video clips of MacKendrick's operations from neighbours. As well, some neighbours complained to her that vehicles affiliated with the business were being parked too close to stop signs, and police had to move them at one point, she said.
"I support home-based businesses. 100 per cent," she said. "I'm just concerned with the amount of complaints."
Deputy Mayor Norma McColeman compared it to a home-based business that council had addressed in the past, which was affecting its neighbours quality of life.
"People were unable to sit out in their yards," she said about the past situation.
Because of the nature of appeals, the final decision will be made at council's next regular meeting in September. However, Summerside's planning board had to vote whether to recommend MacKendrick for a permit or not, which it ultimately voted against.
Daniel Brown is a local journalism initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government. Twitter.com/dnlbrown95
