Bylaw restricting display of vehicles creating lot of concern

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Posted By SARA ROSS, THE PACKET AND TIMES

Posted 1 month ago

For years, car dealerships in Orillia have "taken for granted" being able to prominently display their vehicles along roadways in front of their business, says Bob Brown, co-owner of Thor Motors Orillia Ltd.

With the city now enforcing a bylaw that hasn't been applied for decades some dealerships could find it more difficult to operate, Brown said Friday.

On Monday, Shawn Crawford, the city's chief municipal law enforcement officer, presented a report to council regarding a number of dealerships encroaching onto city-owned road allowances with parked vehicles.

"The City of Orillia traffic and parking bylaw says it prohibits vehicles from being parked on a road allowance for the purpose of displaying the vehicles for sale," Crawford said. "There is a potential safety issue there."

Council approved a policy that allows city staff to negotiate lease agreements with car dealerships to sit on city-owned land. The lease rate must still be discussed, Crawford said.

"The other option is to simply move the vehicles from the car allowance," he said.

City staff suggested the lease rate be in comparison to sidewalk patio leasing, stated the report. Based on five vehicles, the cost would be $1,833 a year plus taxes, it states.

"I'd like to see that lease as low as possible," said Coun. Michael Fogarty. "I don't like changing the rules of the game in the middle of the game."

Fogarty questions why this bylaw is being enforced now when vehicles have been using the property for decades.

"I find it somewhat interesting and I have to inquire about the genesis of it because they've been operating like that for so long," he said. "It makes it difficult for a business to operate."

Mayo's Service Centre is among five dealerships currently encroaching on city land, states the report.

"I have to use it. I am using it," Gareth Mayo, business president, told The Packet. "I don't have enough room (on my lot)."

Currently, Mayo's has 10 to 15 vehicles parked on city-owned land, he said.

"We've cut way down because of this," Mayo said. "I use to run up a chunk out of 60 cars and now I'm down to a dozen, but it's also because of the market. I've ... lost thousands (of dollars.)"

Coun. Ralph Cipolla says the city needs to work with the dealerships.

"I think we need to co-operate with people who are trying to make a living in our city," he said. "As long as they are not... putting the public in jeopardy, or in danger than I don't see any problem with letting them use it."

Cipolla also thinks the staff recommended lease rate is too high.

"It could hurt them if they have to pay an exorbitant amount to lease the property," he said.

Mayor Ron Stevens says each dealership must be assessed individually.

"We need to look at each dealership on a case-by-case basis because some of them have bigger problems," he said. "Some of them don't have as much room."

With more land at their disposal, Thor Motors Orillia Ltd. is in a better position than some other dealerships, Brown said.

The Gill Street dealership will soon undergo a major renovation. By next spring, they will begin constructing a new building on Front Street South, behind their current lot. The existing building will be demolished to allow the entire V-shaped lot surrounded by Atherley Road, Front Street And Gill Street to be used for vehicles and landscaping, Brown said. The redevelopment will allow them to move vehicles off the city-owned land, he added.

"I think during the redevelopment process, the city would be accommodating to us," he said. "I don't think the city is out to put anybody out of business, but they do want to, at some point, start to enforce bylaws."

sross@orilliapacket.com

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