Witless Bay’s chief administrative officer Neil Stamp, left, and councillor Robert Thor review their agenda notes during the October meeting.
By Mark Squibb
Witless Bay council has agreed to submit a proposed amendment to the town’s municipal plan to the Province which, if approved, will allow the new owner of the former St. Patrick’s Catholic Church to operate an art gallery.
Linda Goodyear, who bought the property at number 7 The Avenue last year, had to pay a $4,000 fee to council to get it to submit the rezoning application.
Council had earlier this year denied her request to host art shows, sell works, and teach classes out of the building.
During the October 14 public council meeting, council also fielded a request from Goodyear for an art exhibit at the property.
Councillor Robert Thor moved that council confirm that the ‘one-time art exhibit,’ as described by Goodyear, will involve no commercial sales or transactions and is consistent with the current public building zoning. Approval, said Thor, would not constitute approval for future commercial use or other development of the property.
Both motions were approved without further discussion.
Goodyear, meanwhile, has incorporated a non-profit called The Witless Bay Art Gallery and Arts Education Centre.
