City Council Meeting Recap: April 7, 2026
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The following is a recap of the City of St. John's Regular Council Meeting on April 7, 2026. The recap provides an overview of Council decisions. All related documents for the decisions outlined below and the full agenda from the meeting are available by clicking the button below.
Council Meeting Video, Agenda & Documents
2026 Municipal Open House Event
The City of St. John’s will host a Municipal Open House on Sunday, May 3, 2026, in recognition of Municipal Awareness Week. Building on the success of previous events—with attendance growing from about 1,000 residents in 2024 to 1,500 in 2025—the free, family‑friendly open house will provide residents with an opportunity to explore City facilities and learn about municipal operations. Seven City sites are confirmed to participate, offering guided and self‑guided tours, demonstrations, recreational activities, and information sessions. The event will be promoted through the City’s website and social media channels.
Development Applications:
Development applications are formal requests submitted to the City of St. John's by individuals, businesses, or developers seeking approval for projects that involve land use, building construction, or changes to property. These applications require council approvals and ensure that proposed developments comply with the City’s Envision St. John’s Development Regulations.
The following development applications were reviewed at the meeting:
Discretionary Use: 10 Sheffield Place |
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Council was asked to consider a Discretionary Use application at 10 Sheffield Place for a home occupation involving food preparation. The proposed use would occupy approximately 20.43 m², operate Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., include no on-site sales, and involve delivery by the owner only, with on-site parking available. The property is zoned Residential 1 (R1). Four public submissions were received expressing concerns about commercial activity in a residential area, potential impacts on property values, traffic, and neighbourhood character. Under the Development Regulations, home occupations are limited in size to preserve residential character, and the applicant advises that the operation will not generate additional traffic due to the absence of on-site sales and customers.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
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Extension to a Single Detached Dwelling in the Watershed: 86 Paradise Road (Town of Paradise) |
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Council was asked to consider approving an extension to a Single Detached Dwelling at 86 Paradise Road within the protected Broad Cove River Watershed, following a referral from the Town of Paradise. While the property is subject to the Watershed Agreement and the City of St. John’s Act, extensions to existing dwellings may be considered if they are necessary for household living space and do not exceed half the cubic content of the original dwelling. The existing dwelling has a cubic content of approximately 710 m³, and the proposed extension is 342 m³, which meets the legislative limit. The application was reviewed by the City Manager, who has no concerns with the proposal.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
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Planning Applications and Information:
A planning application is a formal request to amend the Envision St. John's Municipal Plan and/or City’s Envision St. John’s Development Regulations. This would include applications to rezone or change the text in the Municipal Plan or Development Regulations. An amendment can be initiated by city staff, City Council, or a property owner.
Active applications can be viewed on the Planning St. John's webpage, which allows the public to learn more about planning applications, track progress, give feedback and ask questions and view upcoming public meetings all in one place.
The following planning applications were reviewed at the meeting:
Text Amendment: Section 6.20 Heavy Equipment |
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Council was asked to consider an amendment to the Envision St. John’s Development Regulations to reduce the required separation distance for Heavy Equipment Storage and Vehicle Storage Yards from 20 metres to 15 metres from residential zones. The amendment is prompted by an application for heavy equipment storage at 280 Back Line, Goulds, where the current separation requirement cannot be met due to the property’s limited width and adjacent residential zoning. Heavy Equipment Storage is a discretionary use on the site, and the proposed change would allow the application to be considered while maintaining compatibility with neighbouring residential uses. The amendment aligns with Municipal Plan policies on land-use compatibility and buffering. If Council proceeds, public notification is recommended, with the amendment and the related application advertised together.
Decision: 9 voted for, and Councillor Earle abstained due to a conflict of interest.
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Adoption: 746 Blackmarsh Road |
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Council was asked to adopt Envision St. John’s Municipal Plan Amendment No. 22, 2026 and Development Regulations Amendment No. 72, 2026 for lands at 746 Blackmarsh Road, and to proceed to a commissioner’s public hearing. The amendments would redesignate part of the provincially owned property from Urban Expansion to Residential and rezone it from Rural Residential (RR) to Apartment 1 (A1) to support a proposed 45‑unit affordable housing development. The amendments have been publicly advertised, reviewed, and released by the Province, with submissions received and summarized. A hybrid public hearing is tentatively scheduled for May 6, 2026, subject to submissions, after which the amendments will return to Council for final consideration.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
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Strategic Plan Report 2025 and Action Plan 2026
Council was asked to approve the 2026 Strategic Plan Action Plan and table the 2025 progress report for Our City, Our Future, the City’s 10‑year strategic plan. The plan continues with four strategic directions and 12 goals, with no structural or goal changes recommended following the four‑year review. For 2026, 48 new initiatives are proposed, bringing the total to 357 initiatives, aligned with capital planning and other City strategies. Overall progress across all directions exceeds 80% completion, with 47 initiatives completed in 2025 and 235 completed to date. The report also highlights improved reporting, continued integration with other plans, and ongoing efficiency gains from continuous improvement projects.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
Bulrush Avenue Play Space Proposal
Council was asked to consider developing a play space at 21 Bulrush Avenue. The Diamond Marsh subdivision, developed since 2014 and now home to approximately 180 households, currently lacks a dedicated neighbourhood play space. The nearest tot lot is located 420 m away and is not sufficient to serve the growing number of young families in the area. To address this need, a 2,100 sq. m. parcel of land at 21 Bulrush Avenue has been deeded to the City for development of a new play space. Preliminary plans include play structures for ages 5–12, swings, spring toys, benches, a protective pea-stone surface, and potential future trail connections to the adjacent wetland.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
Commemorative Program Fee Adjustment
Council was asked to consider fee adjustments for the Commemorative Tree and Bench Program to better reflect current costs for materials, installation, administration, and ongoing maintenance. Staff recommend increasing the commemorative tree fee from $350 to $800 and the community bench fee from $1,600 to $2,000, while maintaining the heritage‑style bench fee at $5,000. The proposed changes are informed by a review of comparable municipalities and are intended to ensure the program remains financially sustainable, while continuing to offer residents a meaningful way to commemorate loved ones and support the City’s parks and green spaces.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
Amendment Request: 59 Duckworth Street
Council was asked to consider a request to amend the Heritage Design Standards to permit additional exterior alterations to 59 Duckworth Street (Devon House), a designated Heritage Building in Heritage Area 3. The request seeks to allow a vertical extension of a rear bay window, which would require removal of an original hooded dormer window. Under the current standards, original dormer features must be retained and there is no discretion for approval. The Built Heritage Experts Panel and City staff recommend rejecting the amendment, citing the limited number of designated heritage buildings, the dormer’s status as a character‑defining feature, and alignment with federal heritage conservation standards. Heritage NL, which holds an easement on the property, also opposes the change and has confirmed that retention of the dormer windows is a condition of an active restoration grant.
Decision: 9 voted in favour, and Councillor Hickman voted against.
Notice of Motion: Rescind Public Consultation Text Amendment
Council was notified that at the next Regular Meeting, a motion will be made to rescind the adoption of a recent development regulation amendment (Number 68, 2026) to update the section on public consultation, and accepting a staff report in place of a Land Use Report, with eleven councillors having voted in favor.
Exterior Renovations: 35 and 37 Temperance Street
Council was asked to approve exterior renovations to 35 and 37 Temperance Street, municipally and provincially designated Heritage Buildings known as part of The Four Sisters. The work was completed in 2025 without a permit, resulting in a stop‑work order, and a subsequent application was submitted detailing the renovations. The completed exterior work included window replacement with matching style and size, slate roof repairs, trim repairs, eavestrough replacement, repainting of previously painted surfaces, and installation of downward‑facing pot lights. Staff have determined the alterations are minor in nature, comply with the Heritage Design Standards, and do not require review by the Built Heritage Experts Panel. The application is therefore recommended for approval.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
City Council Summer Meeting Schedule 2026
Council was asked to approve a bi‑weekly summer meeting schedule during July and August 2026, as permitted under the City of St. John’s Act and Rules of Procedure. The proposed schedule includes four bi‑weekly Regular/Special Council meetings between July 14 and August 25, 2026, with CotW meetings to be held as needed at the call of Council or Senior Executive. The regular weekly meeting cycle will resume after Labour Day, with a Regular Meeting of Council on September 8, 2026.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
2026 Community Grant: National Indigenous Peoples Day
Council was asked to approve a Special Events and Festivals grant for 2026 National Indigenous Peoples Day, organized by First Light. The annual large‑scale outdoor event attracts over 500 participants and provides an inclusive space for cultural celebration and community connection. Although submitted after the deadline, the grant committee reviewed the application and recommends approval in the amount of $8,000.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
Permits Issued
Council was provided with a list of Development Permits and Building Permits issued since the last council meeting for their information.
Weekly Payment Vouchers
Council approved the weekly payment vouchers for the weeks ending March 25 and April 1.
Proclamations
The below proclamation took place at the meeting. All proclamations are also shared on our website.
Records and Information Management Month, April 2026
Mayor Danny Breen, joined by Kirk Rogers, manager of archives and records management, and archives technician Paula French, proclaimed April 2026 as Records and Information Management Month.
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