Lafreniere Trucking dispute runs out of gas

A long-standing feud over the Claude Lafreniere Trucking site at 309 Fifth Line East has fizzled into insignificance.

A long-standing feud over the Claude Lafreniere Trucking site at 309 Fifth Line East has fizzled into insignificance.

A four-day Ontario Municipal Board hearing into Lafreniere's expansion plans, including a reload centre, on-site fuel storage tanks and new offices and employee parking, was to begin on September 30.

Last night, City Council decided against continuing supporting Lafreniere's project against opposition from Robert Farrell, who lives across the street.

Council was told that the Lafreniere operation has closed and the Fifth Line property is now for sale.

City Solicitor Lorie Bottos advised councillors that the City was unlikely to win at the Ontario Municipal Board because its planning staff had originally opposed the Lafreniere project.

Without their evidence, it would be very difficult to persuade the OMB that the proposed zoning changes demonstrate good planning, Bottos said.