Sidewalk squabble hits council

Sidewalk squabble hits council
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 10, 2003

A North Burnaby businessman wants city council to leave him and his customers alone.
Rajan Krooner, of Langara Appliances at 4739 Hastings St., sent a letter to council on April 25 that claims he is allowed to keep appliances around the outside of his store because he considers that space a 'sales yard.'
"I believe I am not in contravention of the said bylaws," Krooner said in his letter, which was received at council last Monday night. "The appliances are kept in the open and front of the store to give my customers a better view of them and to allow them to inspect them thoroughly before buying them, as opposed to being inside the store, where it can become congested from time to time."
Krooner, who has been dealing with city staff for several months after neighbours complained about the state of his property, also took exception to city hall's claim that his business might fit under the criteria of the unsightly premises bylaw.
"It is my position that the appliances are not unsightly in the sense that they are not broken down, wrecked or dismantled. In fact, they are perfectly functioning appliances, some of which are in need of only minor incidental repairs."
Coun. Doug Evans noted that there are several other businesses in the Heights district, fruit stands in particular, that sell their merchandise from the sidewalk.
But city manager Bob Moncur said the main difference with the fruit stands is that they bring their product inside when the shops close down for the evening.
"The biggest problem here is that he doesn't just put them out and bring them in again," Moncur said. "Here, it's regular storage. They're there all the time. It's that situation which was complained about."
Council agreed to allow staff to continue working with Krooner in the hopes of getting compliance without using the full force of the city bylaws.