GRAVENHURST — Owners of a Gravenhurst convenience store have hired a lawyer to fight a municipal plan to install curbs outside their business.
Simon Park, a Toronto lawyer, came before Muskoka district council on March 1 to represent Nancy and Jason Lee, the owners of Winewood Variety, located at Muskoka Beach Road and Winewood Avenue.
The district began reconstruction work on Muskoka Beach Road in November, said Noel Waters, director of roads and waste management. The work extends from Winewood Avenue to Oakwood Drive. It is proposing to install six-inch barrier curbs in front of the Lees’ store as part of the project.
The entire project is set to finish at the end of May, he said.
“This construction project as proposed and approved will have a significant impact on their (the Lees’) livelihood,” said Park.
Park said 85 to 90 per cent of the store’s customers drive to the front of the business and have done so since 1949 when the store opened. The curb will prevent cars from parking in front of the store and severely hurt the business and the livelihood of the Lee family, he claimed.
“Without this convenient parking, customers will just take their business elsewhere,” he said.
The store has long been a convenient fixture in the neighbourhood.
“Right now their business is a convenience store with convenience being the key word.”
Park said the Lees are willing to work with the district, but so far alternative plans will still limit parking at the store.
“We are here because we have tried several different avenues, but we seem to have hit a wall,” said Park.
The Lees are in the process of hiring an engineer to provide an alternative proposal, said Park.
Waters said the installation of the curbs will keep up with current engineering and safety standards. The latest plan for the area in front of the store will leave room for three parallel parking spaces, said Waters.
Gravenhurst mayor John Klinck said the store is located at “an exceptionally busy intersection.” It is directly across from the Gravenhurst Centennial Centre and the main railway tracks are directly to the east, he said.
Klinck said it should not be a problem to look at an alternative, but it must happen soon. He suggested the Lees bring the engineering proposal to the next district engineering and public works committee on March 24.
“I think that would be the longest we could perhaps stretch it, in terms of our obligations to the contract,” said Klinck.
Gravenhurst district councillor Bob Colhoun suggested the Lees include the use of another parking area on their property in their proposal.
Park said another area is a possibility for parking, but in the winter the snow is piled there. Colhoun said public works staff had indicated they would remove snow from the area.
A number of local residents are supporting the Lees. They have organized a petition, which to date has 2,400 signatures, said Park.