Re: HM/A 08:312 132 Main St W and 40 Bay St S

Request by Vrancor to use the site of the demolished HMP buildings as
a surface parking lot in violation of Zoning by-law 05-200.

The Durand Neighbourhood Association strongly objects to this request
for variance to permit operation of a surface parking lot for an
indefinite period on the site of the the demolished HMP dealership.

We consider this variance to be detrimental to the community for the
following reasons:

1.  Vrancor has been flouting the law by illegally using this site as
a parking lot for over a year, despite being ordered by the City to
cease and desist.  Allowing this variance would reward Vrancor's
illegal behaviour and set a worrying precedent for other scofflaws.

2.  This is precisely the situation the City was trying to prevent
when it enacted this by-law banning new surface parking lots in the
downtown core.  This case is no different.

3. The former Federal building and adjacent HMP site have remained
vacant eyesores for years, and there is absolutely no guarantee that
any development is going to take place in the near future.

4.  The hundreds of dollars in new daily revenue (for minimal effort)
from the increased parking operations would make it even easier for
Vrancor to delay re-developing the property.

In summary, the Durand Neighbourhood Association urges the rejection
of this application for variance in the strongest possible terms.

Yours sincerely,

Nicholas Kevlahan
Vice President, Durand Neighbourhood Association