By Mark Squibb
Members of Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove town council will once again be voting on whether or not to approve a microbrewery at the former Roman Catholic Church on Cribbies Road.
The previous application was narrowly defeated last November after three members of council voted in favour of the application and three members voted against it. A tie-vote, according to provincial legislation, results in a defeated motion. Deputy Mayor Richard Raymond, councillor Ed Dyke, and councillor Irene Stack voted against the application. Councillors Agatha Balsom, Kayla Parsons, and Dave Balsom voted in favour of the motion. Mayor Ron Doyle was unavoidably absent from the meeting.
Petty Harbour resident Nancy Hannaford, who last year circulated a petition signed by 118 residents opposing the microbrewery application, said that minor adjustments found in the new application do not address concerns such as increased traffic, inadequate parking, increased noise, light, and odour pollution, and potential environmental impacts.
In a letter addressed to the Town she also argued that, given the building’s history as a church property, the “proposed development desecrates a sacred or historic site, erasing its cultural significance.”
Town staff could not tell the Irish Loop Post how many letters council received in regard to the application until that information has been tabled at an upcoming council meeting.
While the window for public comment has closed, council is still undertaking a preliminary review of the application.
