A drive-in movie theatre outside of Lumsden is getting shut down by the RM of Lumsden.
Moonlight Movies Drive-In was operating out of the Outer Edge Adventure Park, when their landlords were given the shut down order for the movie theatre after the RM’s council meeting on Friday.
Co-owner Shawn Barrett said the RM reportedly sited traffic safety concerns with an influx of traffic in the area.
“Keep in mind this is two miles from the same place, River Park, that we leased from the Town of Lumsden, on the same Highway 20, where they weren’t worried about heavy traffic then, but now they’re worried about heavy traffic when we’re going somewhere else,” Barrett said. “Also keep in mind, this is the exact same road that the RV’s and everyone line up on going to Country Thunder.”
Barrett said the movie theatre has reached out to the RM asking them to reconsider.
“They replied back letting us know they would discuss it at their next meeting in mid-September; that is really nice, but we have movies planned for this weekend, next weekend and next weekend,” Barrett said. “Them discussing my concerns in mid-September doesn’t really drive for our business, so now we’re going to have hundreds and hundreds of people not able to come to the drive-in movies.”
The RM of Lumsden has responded to the matter, saying the theatre was located in a zone where it was not permitted, and was operating without a development permit, which is required.
Furthermore, the RM’s council denied the theatre portion of the development due to the following concerns in accordance to their zoning bylaw:
- Traffic/access concerns immediately before and after show times on Highway 20
- Light from vehicles at the drive-in would be detrimental to the property immediately beside the theatre
- Insufficient buffering and/or screening exist between the drive-in area and the front yard of one of the neighbouring properties
- Traffic and noise adversely affects the residential character of the area
- Site is not accessible from a major road network, would result in heavy drive-in theatre traffic on RM residential access road in front of the site.
Barrett has also said there have been no complaints from neighbouring land owners addressed to either Outer Edge or the movie theatre staff.
