Council shows who’s the boss on unpermitted towing business

By Craig Westcott

CBS council has rejected an application to rezone a half acre of land in Foxtrap to accommodate a towing business that has been operating without a permit for at least several years.

The owner of Boss Towing applied to rezone land at 38 – 42 Salem Place as well as neighbouring 47 and 47A Peachytown Road. 

Ward 3 councillor Gerard Tilley moved that council reject the application “in consideration that the proposal is inconsistent with surrounding residential uses” and does not adequately satisfy criteria set out in the municipal plan.

A backgrounder prepared for council by staff said the Town has received complaints about the business’s operations impacting nearby residential properties 

The owner of the company applied for a permit to operate a towing business back in 2022 but withdrew the application after being advised council intended to refuse it.

An application this past June to park a tow truck on the road was refused due to lack of frontage on the street. Salem Place is located just off Route 60 and is sandwiched between residential areas on Peachytown Road and Kerry Drive. The area is zoned Residential Medium Density, though the Boss Towing property does not have municipal water and sewer services.

The owner applied for the rezoning in August after discussions with Town staff about his unpermitted business activities.