RM of Lumsden cites a denied permit for closure of drive-in

The RM of Lumsden says a drive-in theatre was operating without a development permit, and that’s why the property has been asked to shut down.

Officials at the RM office declined to comment on the record Wednesday, but they did release an online statement addressing concerns from a social media post Tuesday by drive-in owner Shawn Barrett.

In the post, Barrett said the drive-in was not consulted about the closure, and expressed frustration over the decision and disagreed with the RM’s traffic concerns.

In the statement, the RM office said a drive-in theatre is not permitted in the zoning district and denied the application because of traffic concerns along Highway 20, light and noise disturbances for the area, and neighbour complaints. It also cited insufficient buffering between the drive-in and neighbouring properties.

In an updated social media post in response to the RM’s release, Barrett said the drive-in’s owners assumed incorrectly they were in the clear about a development permit.

“We thought that things were much more simple than they apparently are, and that it would be routine paperwork for Outer Edge (the property on which the drive-in stands) to add us,” the drive-in posted to its Facebook page.

“Looking back, I guess that was a wrong assumption on our part. The owners of Outer Edge were very honest and straightforward with us, and we all thought this was an exciting new venture.”

Barrett wanted to be clear, however, that the drive-in’s original post did not intend to mislead the public, and its message still stands.

“When Outer Edge did fill out the paperwork to have a drive-in, the RM of Lumsden (not) just denied it, but offered no options to be taken for a future approval,” the drive-in’s post added. “And some of the reasons for the denial were very suspect. Such as the concern about increased traffic on Highway 20.”

The statement also says the drive-in regrets any noise complaints that were issued as a result of its operation and that the owners were unaware of the complaints.

The drive-in has started a petition on change.org to keep the theatre up and running, with 2,100 signatures as of Wednesday afternoon.

Barrett reiterates that even if mistakes were made when the drive-in was created, the RM should consult further to create a plan that works for everyone involved.