Dance studio’s parking application rejected
City council rejects request to increase parking for Connie Parsons School of Dance
Connie Parsons, owner of the Connie Parsons School of Dance, submitted an application requesting to use the driveway portion of an adjacent home, which she owns, to increase the parking lot for her business.
The discretionary use application was rejected at Monday evening’s St. John’s city council meeting.
Coun. Sheilagh O’leary, Ward 4 councillor, facilitated a meeting at the Connie Parsons School of Dance on Aug. 25 to listen to neighbours’ concerns.
“It’s a great business, and it offers a great community service,” said O’leary. “But I’ve received numerous calls of noise complaints and emails over the years. I just can’t support the (application).”
“It’s very disheartening,” Parsons later told The Telegram. “The complaints have come from neighbours about cars parked on the street. This is an honest effort to get cars off of the residential street, and onto my own property.”
Parsons said she does not intend to expand her business, and the number of clients would not change.
“I was really in shock that the neighbours weren’t in favour with this,” she said.
Parsons said she circulated a petition with more than 200 signatures in favour of the parking plan. She said she was shocked when that was not mentioned at Monday’s council meeting.
“The councillors tonight all voted in opposition to the recommendation of city planning and engineering,” said Parsons. “They had already said they thought the plan was great.
“The neighbourhood stood a chance for improvement. But now everything will remain the same. I will let it rest, but I will try again.”