The vision of what the Murray Street corridor in Port Moody might look like in the future probably depends on whom you talk to.

It's no different when it comes to the opinion of city council.

On Tuesday, the group grappled with a zoning amendment to expand the types of business that can set up shop to include athletic centres and animal daycares.

The area in question is currently zoned light industrial or M1.

The majority of council voted to send the amendment to a public hearing, but not before some debate.

Both Couns. Rick Glumac and Gerry Nuttall voted against the amendment.

Glumac argued the city is still working on a visioning study for the corridor, and the work needs to be complete before modifying the zoning in the area.

He also suggested it wouldn't be fair to the businesses to welcome them now along the street, but potentially make a change in the future.

"This is sending the wrong message," he said.

Nuttall went even further, suggesting animal daycares should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis by the city, adding the noise generated from the daycares is disruptive to neighbouring businesses.

"We have to work on our vision, get firmly implanted and then we can start talking about additional uses in that area," he said.

But other councillors disagreed.

Coun. Diana Dilworth said the city is sending a message to businesses they're not welcome in Port Moody.

"We've got empty buildings and empty spaces that people want to come and run businesses [in] locally," she said, adding she doesn't believe even if the amendment passes, there would be a rush of gyms or daycares opening up along the street.

It was noted there are currently two potential businesses awaiting a change in the zoning.

Mayor Mike Clay said the city already has animal daycares in other parts and the amendment just brings them into compliance with the zoning.

He argued that if the landowners have a future vision for the street, they would also have the choice of the type of business they want to lease to in the future.

"Right now they're asking us to amend the zoning to allow them to get some lease revenue on their buildings," Clay said.

A staff report noted while not explicitly listed as a permitted M1 use, animal daycares are considered to be similar to veterinary hospitals, which are allowed in the area.

The public hearing on the amendment is schedule for Oct. 9.

jdeutsch@thenownews.com