Kelligrews to get a Dairy Queen

By Craig Westcott

It wasn’t enough to stop the sale of the property, but an unpermitted greenhouse that the owner had erected did cause enough of a hiccup that the Town of Conception Bay South’s planning committee had to look into it and sign off before the sale could go through.
The property in question is located at 174 Garden Road, in Seal Cove.

Ward 3 councillor Gerard Tilley, who chairs council’s planning committee, explained the situation for his colleagues at Tuesday’s public council meeting.
“We became aware of a small greenhouse on the property as a result of a recent compliance letter request needed for the sale of said property,” said Tilley. “We determined the greenhouse was originally built without a permit and the new owners have since made application. We considered the cumulative lot coverage, and feedback from the neighbourhood. The greenhouse is for personal use and the committee doesn’t have any concerns.”
The greenhouse is 9.5 square metres in size.

In other planning committee news:

• Council has agreed to use its discretionary authority to give the owner of land at 48 Dowdens Road in Seal Cove some wiggle room when it comes to the regulated building line setback so that he can enjoy a better view.
  
  “The applicant is looking to build a new home set back 48 metres from the road to take advantage of the view of the pond and the bay from his property,” Tilley said. “The Town does not have any regulations for maximum setbacks, but we needed to consider how this new home would align with the neighbouring properties and based on the size of the property and the distance to adjacent homes, the committee has no concern with the proposal.”

• Council has agreed to amend its Municipal Plan and Development Regulations pending the outcome of a report by commissioner Stephan Jewczyk into an application to rezone land at 705 Conception Bay Highway and 10-14 Jeffers Lane to make way for a Dairy Queen restaurant. Jewcyzk will hold a Public Hearing on the application at the Town Hall on May 15.
  
  “This is a proposed extension of commercial zoning to include land behind the North Atlantic Gas Bar in Kelligrews,” said councillor Shelley Moores.
  The North Atlantic Store in question is the one situated between the Irving Mainway and Kelligrews Post Office, not the other North Atlantic and Orange Store further west near Tim Hortons and the CBS Fire Hall.
  
  “They’re proposing to renovate the building to add a Dairy Queen, and the area to the rear of the building would be used for a new parking lot and a drive thru service lane,” Moores said. “We did hear from area residents when we sought comments last month. We feel that the concerns we heard can be mitigated.”
  
  Moores noted that before council gives final approval to the application, it will consider the commissioner’s findings arising from the public hearing.
  
  “It’s good to hear that Dairy Queen is interested in Conception Bay South,” allowed Mayor Darrin Bent. “That’s the only comment (I’ll make). I like Dairy Queen. But it’s great that we’re moving forward with a hearing and getting it to the next level.”

• Council has given final approval to rezone land at 1440 Conception Bay Highway in Seal Cove to allow Parsons and Sons Transportation to expand its operation.
  Councillor Tilley noted the previous zoning didn’t reflect the longstanding use of the property, and a public hearing with an independent commissioner on the application drew no submissions or comments from the public.
  
  Councillor-at-Large Rex Hillier welcomed the decision. “Parsons Transportation is a longstanding business here in the town,” he pointed out. “It’s great to see them expanding their business. It’s great to be able to bring this particular rezoning (application) to an end and let them go ahead and expand and grow.”

• And finally, an application to operate an excavating company as a home-based business at 488 Seal Cove Road has been put on hold for now.
  “We are deferring a decision on this application until the applicant can clarify some issues with Crown Lands,” Tilley said.
  “Understood,” said Mayor Bent.