Hub Staff

Refreshment Vehicle License approved

Looks like Port Elgin beach goers can grab a tasty treat this summer as on April 11, Saugeen Shores Council approved a Refreshment Vehicle License, for the “Donut Diner,” with a menu consisting of freshly made mini-donuts, coffee and cold beverages.

The mobile food truck which is owned by Micheline Mann, was the only mobile-food business to apply for a beach permit this year. The license will run from May 20, until September 6, and be located within the Flea Market Area.

Along with paying the license fee, hydro and the tender request, Mann will also pay the Port Elgin Tourist Association as she is located within the permitters of the Port Elgin Flea Market.

Final Touches to the New Amended Zoning Bylaw

After a consulting program, three open houses, eight Planning Advisory Committee meetings, and talks with both Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), the Chamber of Commerce, the building community, the Southampton Residents Association, and a few council amendments, Council believes the Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw complies with the approved official plan.

During the April 11 Committee of the Whole, Councillor Cheryl Grace proposed new amendments be made to the zoning bylaw, with one being that libraries and post offices be allowed only in downtown commercial locations. Her other amendment to only allow Financial Institutions to be located in a downtown commercial zone was not approved by council by a tight vote. Graces’ focus was to keep the “social type institutions” downtown, primarily Southampton’s.

“I see banks in our commercial cores having a similar function as our libraries and post offices, so it got sort of a split decision on that, and I'm happy with the fact that we’re going to try to retain our libraries and post offices,” Grace said after the vote.

She added, “my main purpose there was try to keep a variety of uses in our downtown core because I think that promotes our vibrancy and the vitality of our downtown.”

Mayor Mike Smith didn’t think writing this particular decision into the bylaw was a good idea in the long run.

“I just don't like writing it into [the bylaw], because it makes it complicated. Because if you then don't get where you want or if you do want to get just slightly outside of there, you need to go through the process and you subject yourself to a very lengthy process, possibly court, and it just complicated the unnecessary,” Smith said April 11.