Boarding kennel proposed for Westmount

CBRM council to hold public hearings on several land-use bylaw amendment applications

An unnamed party has asked Cape Breton Regional Municipality council to amend its land-use bylaw to allow for the establishment of a boarding kennel and animal sitting establishment on the Westmount side of Keltic Drive.

According to CBRM planner Karen Neville, an amendment is needed as the Keltic Drive Business Corridor (KBC) specifically disallows such undertakings because the area is serviced with both municipal water and sewer.

However, Neville told council during its monthly meeting on Tuesday that it would be reasonable to consider the application as the proposed undertaking would be located behind an existing commercial self-storage facility, well away from any residential development.

Council approved her recommendation and will hold a public hearing on the matter at its next regional meeting in May.

Meanwhile, councillors also agreed to hear another landuse rezoning application that concerns the former Gowrie School in Port Morien. Mark Head, a local boat builder and marine repair specialist, wants to move his operation the short distance to the disused school, but requires a zoning amendment as it is located in a primarily residential neighbourhood. The public hearing will also be held during council’s May regional meeting.

Council also voted to hold a public hearing on a proposed four-unit apartment building that would be located on Herbert Street in Sydney. CBRM staff indicated there was justifiable reasons with the municipality’s planning strategy to reject the application, but councillors opted to hold the hearing to determine what area residents think of the development.