Article content continued

“We put a lot of time and money into this little business and we’re sad to see it go,” said Mr. Hazzard, 39, who opened The Pinball Cafe with his wife, Rachel.

Local councillor Gord Perks did not take kindly to that version of events.

“It attempts to lay blame on the city,” he said. “They’re trying to blame someone else for their mistakes.”

The Hazzards met with Mr. Perks in February, when they were seeking a business licence. They were having trouble obtaining one because of their excess of pinball machines. The councillor said he gave the business owners three options: reduce the number of machines to operate within the limit of two; go to the committee of adjustments for a variance on the zoning rules; or ask the city to change the zoning of the property.

Mr. Perks didn’t hear from the business owners again until the summer, when they were having trouble obtaining a liquor licence.

“If you want to get a liquor licence, then you have to get a business licence. And if you want a business licence, you have to get your zoning stuff figured out,” Mr. Perks said.

But the Hazzards didn’t act quickly enough. By the time they decided to reduce the number of pinball machines to obtain a licence, they were turned down because of the interim control bylaw.

Mr. Perks defends the bylaw, saying it addresses a zoning imbalance in the neighbourhood.

“All of the sudden, what was supposed to be a neighbourhood shopping area has turned into an entertainment area,” he said. “The streets are packed all night and empty all day.”