Garage order to close in March

A local auto-service garage that was [url=https://streeter.ca/engines-to-hush-at-garage.html]mistakenly issued a business licence[/url] by the city must close down shop at the end of March.

Business owner Lisa Watson was issued a licence to operate a small service garage at Avenue Road and Brooke Avenue last summer.

A bylaw excluding service stations from the area came into effect in January of 2010.

The application for the business licence was submitted in December of 2009.

The city admitted the mistake soon after it was discovered and permitted the garage to remain open for the duration of the licence.

There was also talk of the owner being compensated.

“The city has acknowledged its errors and emissions and gross negligence in this matter and is prepared to make settlement with the applicant to make sure that she’s made whole and her damages have been taken care of,” said councillor Karen Stintz during a public meeting last year.

Citing ongoing litigation, Watson declined to comment on the matter in January.

However, Stintz is certain that the garage will have to close.

“Their current business license expires at the end of March,” she said.

“They will not be re-issued a business licence so they will not be able to legally operate.”

[align=right]— With files from Alina Smirnova
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