The Johnny B’s auto repair shop on Sykes Street was destroyed by fire on May 25, 2023, and in the three years since they have operated their repair shop on a rural property located on Sideroad 22. They were granted a three-year temporary commercial use permission by bylaw on the property, which expires on November 13 of this year. The owner, John Bulsink, has requested an extension to the temporary commercial use bylaw for another three years as he continues the process to rebuild his garage.
A public meeting held in Meaford’s council chamber on Monday, July 13, gave the public an opportunity to share their thoughts on the request for a three-year extension of the temporary commercial use bylaw.
A number of residents filled the council chamber, both opponents of the extension as well as supporters of Johnny B’s. The temporary location in a rural agricultural area has been a frustration for some neighbouring property owners who say that Bulsink has not been following the rules established in 2023 when the temporary commercial use bylaw was approved.
After a brief presentation from municipal staff, applicant John Bulsink addressed council.
“It’s been three long years, I’m not going to lie, it hasn’t been very fun,” Bulsink told council. “I didn’t think I would be here for three years. I was promised that within these three years I would have a new building, and that has not happened. We’ve had some struggles while working with the municipality, diligently trying to work through, resolve, get a resolution for the problems. But in the meantime, we require a little more time, so that we can move forward and get the new building built.”
Bulsink acknowledged the frustrations expressed by some of the neighbouring property owners, who have complained about excessive noise, having more than the allowable number of cars on the property, and a growing pile of tires.
“It’s been really, really difficult, trying to follow all of the rules, and trying to follow everything, has been really stressful,” Bulsink told council. “With respect to the neighbours and everything else, I have been adamant to my staff to be respectful to the neighbours, and we try our best to keep the noise down. It’s not always easy.”
Bulsink said that he has purchased a new facility in Owen Sound, which he suggested would take some of the pressure off of the temporary location on Sideroad 22.
As for the growing pile of tires, Bulsink blamed the province.
“As far as the tires go, there’s been a big change in January as far as tire pick-up and recycling. The government has stopped some funding on the recycling, I spoke with Paul Vickers MPP, and he’s looking into solutions for that,” Bulsink told council. “I spoke with the tire recyclers, and there is a new recycler coming, but he won’t be up and running for a couple of months. All of the shops in this area have a backlog of tires, including the municipality. So, a lot of this stuff is out of our control.”
Some of the neighbouring property owners told council that they have been frustrated over the past three years.
“We were opposed to the initial re-zoning, which granted Johnny B’s a temporary three year permit to operate his business directly across the road,” neighbour Dave Wilcox told council. “We are also opposed to this application for a three-year extension.”
Wilcox listed his concerns for council, which included an increase in traffic on the rural road, dangerous driving by patrons of the repair shop, excessive noise and car alarms “at all hours, 24 hours per day”, along with concerns about contamination of the local water course, and declining property values.
“The number of vehicles on site in various states of repair and disrepair. They’re supposed to have a maximum of ten vehicles on site. I have counted as many as 93 on site, that’s a lot more than 10,” Wilcox told council.
A number of residents spoke to council, both those opposed to the requested extension and those who support the business and its request for an extension of the temporary commercial use bylaw.
“The losses are still happening for this small business,” noted one supporter of Johnny B’s, who encouraged council to grant the extension of the temporary commercial use bylaw.
Those supporting Bulsink and his business suggested that the municipality is to blame for the delay in getting the new repair shop built.
After the meeting had concluded, The Meaford Independent contacted CAO Shawn Everitt seeking comment on the status of Bulsink’s building permit.
“The Municipality has worked with Mr. Bulsink and continues to work with Mr. Bulsink with the intent in seeing his facility, property and business to be reestablished through the appropriate and legislatively required building permit process,” Everitt told The Independent.
The purpose of the public meeting was to hear from the applicant as well as residents. Staff will prepare a report to be presented to council on July 27, after which council will vote on the requested temporary use extension.
