5,000 sq. foot toy box pushes limits
DON CAMPBELL Special to The Scugog Standard

Council’s unanimous endorsement last week of restricting ‘mega-garages’ in Scugog is already being put to the test by a Prince Albert resident.

A public hearing at this week’s Scugog council meeting by Lucky Dutt, Kiya Developments Ltd. proposed an application to build a 5,280 square foot garage on Mr. Jason Rinaldi’s property at 14372 Old Simcoe Rd.

Mr. Rinaldi said the garage will store and display his antique car collection, along with an RV unit and boat. Rinaldi, originally from Guelph and co-owner of Hitman Hotrods in Cambridge, was the sole winner of the $35.3 million Lotto 649 jackpot in October.

The proposal was not recommended by the Durham Region Planning Department because it does not maintain the principle use of the property as a residential lot and it does not fit into future development plans.

Mr. Dutt said the proposal meets and exceeds criteria laid out in six of the eight provisions in the Region’s plans, reminding council that a similar structure was built on a neighbouring property that was only 44 square metres smaller “without applying for re-zoning or any objection from council.”

Planning and Public Works Commissioner Gene Chartier said he could not comment on that particular permit because the inspector who made the issuance was on vacation.

Neighbours of Mr. Rinaldi voiced their concerns about the size of the garage and potential noise and fume problems. Janice Holtby of 14452 Old Simcoe Rd. was concerned that the doors from the garage would face her home and that noise, dust and fumes could spill onto her property.

Bev Stanley, also a homeowner on Old Simcoe Rd., was concerned that the size and scope of the garage could invite greater traffic in the future if more cars and trucks used the garage for servicing.

Mayor Marilyn Pearce said council could not make a decision on the proposal until the proper staff returned to provide more information on how the neighbouring property received a permit and how the existing structure was built without zoning in place.

Councillors also expressed concern over what could happen if Mr. Rinaldi decided to sell the house and whether future owners could use it for something other than personal use. Mr. Chartier said the property could be zoned for specific uses limiting it to residential only.

It was an idea Mr. Dutt said they would be open to considering, with Mr. Rinaldi responding that he only wanted to use the garage to store and work on his cars.

The issue will have to return to council before any definitive decision is made on Scugog’s largest ‘toy box.’