City Council Meeting Recap: May 5, 2026
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The following is a recap of the City of St. John's Regular Council Meeting on May 5, 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
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:
Crown Land Grant: 150 Howlett's Line |
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Council was asked to consider rejection of a Crown Land Grant at 150 Howlett’s Line, as the 3,035 m² Rural‑zoned parcel does not meet minimum lot size requirements and residential development is not permitted in the zone.
Decision: Motion carried unanimously.
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Crown Land Lease: Northern Pond Road |
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Council was asked to consider approval of a Crown Land Lease on Northern Pond Road for a 32.37‑hectare Agriculture‑zoned property to be used for hay production, with any portion falling within the Watershed Zone excluded from the lease if approved.
Decision: Motion carried unanimously.
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Extension to a Single Detached Dwelling in the Watershed: 34 King's Hill Road (Town of Portugal Cove – St. Phillip’s) |
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Council was asked to consider rejection of an application to extend a single detached dwelling at 34 King’s Hill Road, as the proposed addition exceeds permitted size limits within the protected Broad Cove River Watershed and did not receive a recommendation from the City Manager.
Decision: Motion carried. Councillor Halley voted against the rejection.
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Discretionary Use: 390 Topsail Road |
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Council was asked to consider a Discretionary Use application at 390 Topsail Road for a restaurant with a lounge, as the lounge is within 150 metres of a residential area, with some public concerns noted but no issues identified with parking, traffic, or site access.
Decision: Motion carried unanimously.
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Discretionary Use: 50 White Rose Drive |
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Council was asked to consider a Discretionary Use application at 50 White Rose Drive for a 242 m² indoor golf simulator (Place of Amusement) within a Commercial Regional (CR) Zone, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week with passcode access, with on-site parking provided and no public submissions received.
Decision: Motion carried 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 application was reviewed at the meeting:
Text Amendment: 30 Duckworth Street |
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Council was asked to consider a text amendment to allow a dwelling unit on the first storey at 30 Duckworth Street, as current regulations prohibit ground-floor residential uses on this street, with the change proposed to support conversion of an underutilized commercial space and align with broader downtown residential and mixed-use objectives, subject to additional parking relief.
Decision: Motion carried unanimously.
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Notices of Motion
Amendment to the Residential Property Standards By-Law
Councillor Ryall gave notice that they will bring forward an amendment to the Residential Property Standards By-Law at the next regular meeting to update how Deficiency Notices are served on property owners.
Notice of Rescission of SJMC-R-2026-04-21/116
Councillor Davis gave notice that they will bring forward a motion at the next regular meeting to rescind resolution SJMC-R-2026-04-21/116, which resolved that council not designate 157-163 Water Street and that the exterior form of the building including character-defining elements be documented prior to a demolition permit being issued.
Deputy Mayor Ellsworth then made a motion to waive the two‑week notice period to allow immediate debate on the motion to rescind due to tight demolition timelines and the June 11 permit deadline. Council voted to waive the two-week notice period 9-1, with Councillor Halley voting against. This allowed Councillor Davis to make a motion to rescind resolution SJMC-R-2026-04-21/116 at this meeting.
Members discussed redevelopment plans, heritage considerations, and the role of a forthcoming Heritage Report to guide preservation of character‑defining elements. Council ultimately defeated the rescission motion (2–8), leaving the original decision in place. You can watch the full debate by clicking the button below.
Committee of the Whole (COTW) Delegations Policy
Council was asked to consider approval of a Committee of the Whole Delegations Policy and procedures to establish a clear, transparent process for delegation requests, including requirements for advance notice, limits on presenters and topics, and defined methods for submitting requests.
Decision: Motion carried unanimously.
Northeast Avalon Joint Committee (NEAJC) 2026 Year End Social Sponsorship
Council was asked to consider a $3,000 sponsorship donation to the Northeast Avalon Joint Council’s June 2026 year-end social, continuing the City’s traditional support as its largest municipal member to help cover event and catering costs.
Decision: Motion carried unanimously.
2026 Film Shoot Road Closure
Council approved a road closure on Quidi Vidi Road (between Forrest Road and Empire Avenue) on May 12 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for filming of Son of a Critch, with traffic control in place and access maintained for emergency vehicles, businesses, and residents.
2026 Street Rehabilitation Program List of Streets
Council was provided with the 2026 Streets Rehabilitation and Grind and Patch list.
To view a list of streets contractors may currently be working as part of the City's annual streets rehabilitation and infrastructure maintenance programs, please visit the Traffic Advisories page. Work could include concrete/street excavation, concrete work, paving, heater scarifying, utility adjustment, ditch cleaning and culvert installation.
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 April 22 and April 29.
Proclamations
The below proclamations took place at the meeting. All proclamations are also shared on our website.
Municipal Awareness Week, May 10-16, 2026
Mayor Breen proclaimed May 10-16, 2026 as Municipal Awareness Week.
Occupational Health and Safety Week
Mayor Breen proclaimed May 3-9, 2026 as Occupational Health and Safety Week.
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