The issue before Aurora Planning Board last Tuesday was a site plan for a vintage property in the centre of Town. Three lots of record were involved. The applicant proposed the use of a vintage home as a spa with four rooms upstairs for "overnight accommodation."
I am familiar with the nature of zoning. Among other things,it qualifies detached and semi-detached houses, apartment houses, and town houses, nursing homes, retirement homes, boarding homes and hotels are all "overnight accommodation". But they are not so defined. Separate requirements define each classification.
Four rooms with beds, upstairs in a vintage home converted to a spa house, is not a defined purpose sufficient for my comfort.
Nottawasaga Inn has re-named itself a Spa. It has a swimming pool, tennis courts, golf course, exercise rooms and recreation programs for children while parents luxuriate.
The Hotel I stayed at in July for my grandson's wedding in Ottawa is also a spa. The women in the
bridal party had hair and make up done in leisure and comfort on the day of the wedding. They were all beautiful. The wedding was on the lawn, the reception in a marquee.
In my mind's eye, four rooms upstairs in an old house on congested Wellington Street in Aurora do not fit the image.
The loose phrase "Overnight Accommodation" as a commercial use suggests a continual business operation. Hotels do not lock their doors at a particular hour. Traffic comes and goes at all hours of the night. Hotels are also governed by legislation other than municipal planning.
My function at the table in a planning debate is to give serious consideration to every angle of every proposal and how it might impact on neighbours' right to enjoy their property.
Wellington Street is no longer residential. Centre Street is. It abuts the proposal. Whatever happens at the spa definitely impacts the residential neighbourhood.
A planning debate is not about morals. It is not about lifestyles of the rich and famous.It is not about the applicant who makes a request for a change in zoning.
A planning debate is about a proposed change in use of property. A zoning definition is about specifying the use for present and future owners to know precisely how a property can be used.and how it cannot.
In fact, on Tuesday night at the Planniing Board Meeting direction was give to staff to provide a better definition of the use proposed by the applicant.. A resolution approved the application in principle. There were no opposing votes.
"Four rooms with beds, upstairs in a vintage home converted to a spa house, is not a defined purpose sufficient for my comfort."
ReplyDeleteThen you should have asked for more information until you were comfortable.
Think for a moment about what you've done.
You've suggested, publicly, that a long-time local business owner is planning on opening a brothel!
Notwithstanding the silliness of your utterances, do you seriously think that a criminal element that actually intended to start up such an enterprise in our little burg, would draw attention to themselves by seeking town approval?
Sorry councillor - you've lost the plot on this one.
Anonymous (above), said "You've suggested, publicly, that a long-time local business owner is planning on opening a brothel!"
ReplyDeleteThat's not what I understand from Evelyn's post at all. What was suggested was that overnight rooms in the commercial venture aren't residences, they aren't hotels. I don't yet know what they are.
This was in the Banner:
"3 women face bawdy house charges - York Regional Police have arrested three women on charges related to running a bawdy house in a Newmarket spa."
The link is: http://yorkregion.com/News/Newmarket/article/83718
So, it happens. I'm just saying.....
I was about state the same article from the Banner when Heather stated it. Funny how people don't see how things can be portrayed and others just want the proper wording to make sure that the property owner and the people surrounding them are all protected. All property owners have rights and the Town is the common link to make sure that is exactly what happens. Kudos to Councillor Buck for once again seeing the BIGGER picture! Shame on the others for not speaking up, Evelyn couldn't possibly be the only one who thought about the surrounding property owners or could she?
ReplyDelete"I don't yet know what they are"
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY!
And it's a fair comment.
The next logical step would be to ask for more clarification as to the intent of these overnight rooms.
We all know that a "spa" or "massage parlour" being a front for prostitution is nothing new but the council meeting was neither the time or place to mention "hanky panky" or "bordello". Even if it was not a direct accusation the inference was there.
If a public planning meeting is not the place to talk about such things where is it???? I think that A PUBLIC planning meeting is the place to ask these questions. Always remember council represents the people!! Such discussions should not be held anywhere else but out in the public for all to hear!!!!
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing to stop the next owner of this property from having a "Massage Parlor" or anything else they want once this zoning goes through. Look at the bigger picture, people!! It is not just what is happening today it is in the future to. Properties change hands and for more money the better the zoning!!