A small business owner’s attempts to make his auto repair and paint shop here legal was met with some positive response by Wellington North council at its meeting Monday.
Roger Villeneuve is seeking a zoning amendment that if approved by council would make it legal to operate.
Villeneuve refurbishes muscle cars and antique cars in a garage on the property, but was informed by a township official that the current agricultural zoning did not allow for the type of business he has operated since 2010.
In October last year, the businessman was told by township building official Darren Jones to cease operation due to the current zoning.
The amendment Villeneuve is seeking is opposed by neighbour Elizabeth Ellen Wootton who sent a four-page letter opposing the business and attempts to allow it. The business is supported by neighbour Bill Balch who attended Monday’s meeting.
County planner Mark Van Patter said at the public meeting on Jan. 13 that the current zoning did not allow for the business to operate, but he noted the business could be deemed a home industry provided that rules were relaxed.
“The use is similar to a home industry in scale; however, the setbacks to neighbouring dwellings are considerably less than that required by the home industry regulations,” Van Patter said in a report to council.
Van Patter said “a secondary home industry use can be considered in a prime agricultural area, provided it is small scale, does not hinder agriculture and is compatible with the surrounding land uses.”
The planner added the repair shop does not conform to county official plan regulations.
Villeneuve told council the business is registered and that he is a licensed auto body repair person and has been since around 1972. As part of his work, Villeneuve said he paints about five cars a year in his small, one-man business and works generally from 8am to 4pm weekdays.
He noted he keeps his property clean and does not throw any contaminants around his three-bay shop.
“All my waste gets hauled out,” he told council. “I don’t even do oil changes.”
Balch agreed in his letter of support for the business, saying Villeneuve and his wife Antonia keep their property neat and that he has had no complaints about the operation.
“There’s nothing that has ever been done that would cause me any concern,” Balch told council.
Villeneuve said concerns were raised by the neighbour objecting to the amendment application about paint fumes, which he thought were resolved when he installed an upgraded venting system.
The amendment also prompted a visit by a Ministry of Labour inspector who, according to Villeneuve, felt the business would not be “harmful.”
“He said you’re good to go here,” Villeneuve said of the inspector’s assessment.
Councillor Dan Yake supported the business and the zoning amendment being sought, although he concurred the objection might be a neighbour dispute.
“I’d certainly like to see us accommodate Roger (Villeneuve),” Yake said. “I’d like to see us come up with a resolution.”
Mayor Ray Tout agreed that council should find a way to allow the business to continue operation.
“There’s got to be a way we can work with this,” the mayor said.
Tout noted more work on the application and outstanding issues will have to be done before a bylaw approving the rezoning comes to council.
