City Council Meeting Recap: February 24, 2026
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The following is a recap of the City of St. John's Regular Council Meeting on February 24, 2026, which provides an overview of Council decisions. All related documents for the decisions outlined below and the full agenda from the meeting are available by visiting the button below.
Council Meeting Video, Agenda & Documents
Long Service Awards Presented
Prior to the start of the City Council Meeting, the Honourable Chris Tibbs, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs joined the meeting to present two Long Service Awards which recognize mayors, deputy mayors, councillors and municipal administrators for their contributions to their communities and the province. Mayor Breen was recognized for 16 years of service, while Deputy Mayor Ron Ellsworth was recognized for 12 years.
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 application was reviewed at the meeting:
Discretionary Use: 320 Torbay Road
Council was asked to approve a Discretionary Use application by Eleven 21 Events Inc. for a Place of Amusement at 320 Torbay Road. The proposed 219 m² venue would host events such as birthday parties, baby showers, small weddings, and corporate meetings, operating seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m., with on-site parking provided.
The property is zoned Commercial Regional (CR). One submission was received expressing concern about the proximity to a nearby residence and potential noise associated with the proposed hours. The main entrance will face Torbay Road and be accessed from the front parking lot, with only emergency access at the rear. The building is expected to help buffer traffic and pedestrian noise for homes located behind the site.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
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:
Rezoning: 366-374 Empire Avenue |
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Council was asked to consider rezoning 366–374 Empire Avenue from the Residential 3 (R3) Zone to the Apartment 1 (A1) Zone to allow a Cluster Development of six apartment buildings with a total of 54 units. The site is vacant and located within the Residential District of the Envision St. John’s Municipal Plan, so no Municipal Plan amendment is required. The property was previously rezoned from A1 to R3 in 2023 for a cul-de-sac development that did not proceed. The current proposal does not include a public street and would be entirely privately owned, with on-site parking. The proposal aligns with Municipal Plan policies that support increased density, housing diversity, and neighbourhood revitalization, provided development is compatible with surrounding properties. The area already includes a mix of apartment buildings, single detached homes, and commercial uses, and the A1 Zone permits a maximum building height of 14 metres. A Land Use Report (LUR) is required to assess the rezoning. Should Council proceed and approve the draft terms of reference, the applicant must undertake neighbourhood consultation before submitting the report, followed by a public meeting as part of the rezoning process.
Decision: Approved unanimously. |
Rezoning: 358-376 Portugal Cove Place |
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Council was asked to adopt Envision St. John’s Development Regulations Amendment No. 73, 2026, to rezone 358–376 Portugal Cove Place from Residential 1 (R1) to Residential 2 (R2) and Apartment 1 (A1) to allow a mixed housing development. The proposal by GLD Homes Ltd. includes 14 townhouses and 11 low-rise apartment buildings, for a total of 168 residential units. A Municipal Plan amendment is not required. The rezoning would permit a range of housing types within the R2 and A1 Zones. Council is also considering reducing the minimum landscaping requirement in the A1 Zone from 35% to 30% to align with other apartment zones; the proposed development would still provide nearly 34% landscaping. Public consultation included a public meeting and mailed and published notices. Feedback was mixed, with support for increased and diverse housing options, particularly for downsizing, and concerns primarily related to traffic. The site is located within airport noise exposure contours; residential development is permitted, though future residents must be informed of aircraft noise and appropriate sound insulation measures considered. If adopted, the amendment will be forwarded to the provincial Department of Municipal and Community Affairs for registration.
Decision: Approved unanimously. |
Rezoning: 45-53 Blackmarsh Road |
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Council was asked to adopt Envision St. John’s Development Regulations Amendment No. 75, 2026, to rezone 45–53 Blackmarsh Road from Industrial Commercial (IC) to Commercial Mixed (CM) to allow mixed residential and commercial development. The proposal would enable 20 new dwelling units within existing buildings, including 16 units on the upper floors of 45 Blackmarsh Road (while maintaining commercial uses on the ground floor) and four units within 47 Blackmarsh Road. No redevelopment is currently proposed for 53 Blackmarsh Road, but rezoning would allow future mixed-use development. The three properties would be consolidated into one lot. Staff recommended accepting a staff report in place of a Land Use Report, as the rezoning supports residential use within existing buildings and aligns with the mixed-use character of the surrounding area. Public feedback was generally positive, with support for increased density and retaining existing businesses, though some raised questions about affordable housing. If adopted, the amendment will be forwarded to the provincial Department of Municipal and Community Affairs for registration.
Decision: Approved unanimously. |
Ratification of E-Polls:
Sometimes, City Council needs to make decisions quickly—before the next regular meeting. When that happens, members can vote electronically. This is called an E-Poll. At the next official council meeting, those decisions are brought forward and formally approved, or ratified, to make them part of the official public record.
Council ratified the following e-poll at the meeting:
Rose Bowl Award
Council was asked to approve the renewal and continuation of the City’s sponsorship of the Kiwanis Music Festival Senior Instrumental Rose Bowl Award through 2029.
The City has sponsored the festival’s top award since 2003, supporting an event that has contributed to St. John’s vibrant musical community since 1952. The annual sponsorship cost is $1,500.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
Privacy Management Audit
Council was asked to approve the Privacy Management audit report and management’s associated action plans.
The audit, completed by the Office of the City Internal Auditor, reviewed the City’s Access to Information and Protection of Privacy (ATIPP) processes to ensure compliance with provincial legislation and internal policy. Overall, the audit found that the City has effective privacy practices in place, including a strong policy framework, clearly defined roles, dedicated privacy staff, and mandatory employee training.
The report also identified opportunities for improvement, including strengthening Privacy Impact Assessment processes, completing and publishing a Personal Information Inventory, and clarifying responsibility for the records safeguard plan. These actions will further support the City’s efforts to protect personal information and meet its obligations under the legislation.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
St. John’s Heritage Strategic Plan 2026-2036
Council was asked to approve the St. John’s Heritage Strategic Plan 2026–2036.
Public consultation on the draft plan took place in June 2025 and feedback was generally positive, with suggestions related to built heritage inventories, demolition notification, adaptive reuse, heritage tourism, collaboration with agencies such as Parks Canada and Heritage NL, and additional funding for heritage grants.
Based on the feedback, several updates were incorporated into the plan, including clarifying alignment with the City’s Strategic Plan, adding references to natural heritage, strengthening conservation language, and identifying new actions. New initiatives include partnering with Heritage NL on a built heritage inventory, reviewing standards for federal districts, preparing a management plan for the St. John’s Ecclesiastical District, creating a laneway inventory, and adding provincially and federally designated sites to the City’s Neighbourhood Profile map.
Some suggestions were not included as they fall outside the City’s authority or the scope of the plan. If approved, implementation will begin in 2026, with initiatives and associated costs brought forward annually through the regular budget process.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
2025 Municipal General Election Report and Recommendations
Council was asked to approve the recommendations in the 2025 Municipal General Election Report.
The 2025 municipal election was conducted by vote-by-mail, but the process faced significant challenges, including a national postal strike that disrupted mail delivery and created operational difficulties. Issues with the voters list (such as incorrect or duplicate information) also complicated the election process. Post-election debriefs identified areas for reform and improvement.
The report recommends creating a staff-led Election Reform Working Group to modernize and strengthen election processes based on lessons learned and stakeholder feedback. The group would review voting models, including whether to discontinue vote-by-mail or retain it with mandatory registration, and report back to Council with recommendations by June 30, 2028.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
2026 Civic Improvement Assessment Rates
Council was asked to set the 2026 assessment rates for civic improvements, as required under the City’s Assessment Policy.
Assessment rates are calculated annually by applying an adjustment factor to established base rates to reflect changes in construction costs. The 2026 rates reflect updated construction pricing and include increases across services such as watermain, sanitary and storm sewer, water and sewer services (including commercial services), street improvements, new streets, sidewalks, and rural street upgrading.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
Travel Authorization: 2026 MNL Municipal Symposium, Gander, NL
Council was asked to approve travel for Councillor Ryall, Councillor Hammond, and Councillor Cadigan to attend the 2026 Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) Municipal Symposium in Gander from May 7–9, 2026.
The symposium, held at the Quality Hotel and Suites in Gander, focuses on best practices and professional development in the municipal sector, along with updates from key partners and networking opportunities for municipal leaders.
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 February 11 and February 18.
Pink Shirt Day
Council participated by wearing pink for Pink Shirt Day. Pink Shirt Day is an international anti-bullying campaign promoting kindness and inclusion.
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