Stephanie Coleman, Gleaner Writer
Left: Customers of the Shakti Yoga Centre, park on the sidewalk along Bedford Park Avenue.
Right: Unsightly garbage in front of the Shakti Yoga Centre, is said to be caused by stray dogs who rummage through the garbage bags. - CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
THE ONGOING battle between The Shakti Yoga Centre and the Bedford Park Citizen Association is expected to move from the upscale residential area to the courts, said Kingston and St. Andrew Cooperation (KSAC) Town Clerk, Lincoln Evans.
The KSAC served the Shakti Yoga Centre with a notice to close down on January 20 after Mayor Desmond McKenzie toured the area and discovered that there was 'unauthorised development', or the operation of a gym, in the residential area. However, the Shakti proprietress, Sharon McConnel, has acknowledged the notice but has not complied with the order.
"They (Shakti) said that they have owned and occupied the premises for 12 years. During that time it has always been used for non-residential purposes," said Evans.
According to Evans, the KSAC is still investigating the "illegal activity" with the possibility of legal action not far on the horizon.
"Now it becomes a legal matter since they haven't closed. We have to go to the next process," Evans continued.
Under the law Shakti can be fined up to $25,000 per day for operating in defiance of the notice, yet as Evans explained, the matter has not reached that stage. The current investigation has not appeased the Bedford Park Citizen Association, who want the gym closed immediately.
"We can't work with them, they got to go. You can't tame out of order people," said a member of the Association and long-time resident.
The resident claimed that although Shakti defends the legality of its operations, they were not able to produce a copy of their permit. He also blamed Shakti for disregarding the community.
GARBAGE DISPOSAL
"In December we got a notice that she was going to add on to the property and the same day she start to build."
Residents of Bedford Park Avenue accuse the establishment of unsanitary garbage disposal, security and excess noise. "Since they bring a yoga gym into the community thieves come in through their place and try to come onto my property. I had to build up a security fence that costs so much money," said the irate resident.
The resident, who wished not to be named, said that improper disposal of their solid waste has caused a rat infestation on his property.
The gym itself is not the only bone of contention as customers have been accused of parking on lawned sidewalks and obstructing the residents' entrance and exit to their homes.
"When they park their SUVs we can't go into our driveways, they park anywhere. I had to put river stones along the sidewalk so they won't come and mash it up," he continued.
