Council decides on no change

While not a unanimous vote, Yarmouth town council has approved a motion not to make changes to a bylaw that would allow residents to use storage containers in their front yards to store green carts, recyclables and garbage.

The overriding concern is not everyone would adhere to the right standards.

Some residents and landlords have already been using these types of storage containers – usually wooden ones – in front of their properties. While some are extremely tidy and nice looking, the worry is that not everyone would take the same pride in their neighbourhood.

Councillor Clifford Hood said he has a lot of sympathy for those who have shown that this type of storage can be done nicely, but he says enforcement for violators would be a big issue to contend with. Councillor Jim MacLeod said there are people who are doing things very nicely, but there are others who don’t care as much.

Councillors Don Berry and Wade Cleveland are both in favour of allowing the units in front yards. Berry said he’s seen examples that have been “outstanding” and Cleveland said he worried about always legislating to the lowest common denominator instead of for those who are doing things right.

Mayor Pam Mood agreed on Cleveland’s point, but said unfortunately that’s what happens. She agreed it does penalize those who have demonstrated it can be done correctly. But if you let some do it, you have to let all do it, and therein lies the risk.

“The calls I’m getting from people is they don’t want this,” she said, saying residents don’t want their streets laden with garbage storage units 24/7.

“I don’t think anyone around this table doesn’t have the upmost respect for those who do it nice and properly,” Mood said, but the concern is people will also have ugly looking units and will fill them with garbage from the day after garbage collection takes place until the next garbage day rolls around, regardless of what the town’s bylaw says.