Wheaton’s to expand operations

BY KIRK STARRATT

Kings County Register

The municipality has approved amendments that will allow the expansion of a successful Somerset business.

Kings County council has given second and final consideration to amending a development agreement to allow for expansions to a wood furniture production facility and restaurant, more retail space, especially for a furniture showroom, a greater variety of uses and the reconfiguration of the parking area at Wheaton’s.

Garnet Wheaton submitted an application for the amendments in December and council gave its initial consideration at the March session.

Planner Dawn Sutherland said the property is in the Agricultural zone. Wheaton’s wishes to expand a café to the entire ground floor of an existing building and it wants to include a plant nursery, allowed as of right in the Agricultural zone but the use must be added to the development agreement.

There were no written submissions on the application, but Sheila Cornect, an adjacent property owner, expressed concern at the public hearing held prior to second and final consideration they are getting fumes from the furniture production facility. She asked if there could be better filtration for exhaust.

Sutherland said she had spoken with Wheaton, who said he would move the exhaust to the other side of the building. However, Cornect said this wouldn’t solve the problem.

Councillor Wayne Atwater said he had sympathy for Cornect, but is confident Wheaton would take care of the problem. He urged his colleagues to support the amendments.

Councillor Barry Peterson said he is sure the Department of Environment would check out the issue of the exhaust. Councillor Chris Parker asked if anyone had visited the facility to check on the smell.

Warden Fred Whalen, who represents the subject area, said there had never been any complaints before. He lives close by and has never smelled any fumes.