The Provincial Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture referred an application for Crown Land Grant at 358 Blackhead Road. The land is approximately 0.6 hectares and is zoned Open Space Reserve (OR). The area is currently used for a telecommunications tower and will maintain the same future use.

The Deputy Mayor emphasized that telecommunication towers fall under federal jurisdiction. While these applications are brought before Council, the authority to make the final decision is with the federal government.

Decision: Approved unanimously

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Council reviewed Newfoundland Power’s application to replace utility poles along Petty Harbour Road as part of a three-phase upgrade. Some poles are located within a floodplain, wetland, or buffer zone. As required by regulations, the application was reviewed by the Environment and Sustainability Experts Panel, which raised no concerns.

Decision: Approved unanimously

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Council reviewed a Discretionary Use application for 112 Camrose Drive to remediate an abandoned quarry. The work will include filling, regrading, and landscaping approximately 18,976 m² within the Watershed (W) Zone, specifically in the Little Powers Pond Watershed. No buildings are proposed. One public submission raised concerns about heavy equipment and road impact. The Town of Paradise was notified, as the property fronts that municipality, although the work is within the city's boundary. The goal is to naturalize the area.

Decision: Approved unanimously

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Council reviewed an application to add a Subsidiary Dwelling Unit to a non-conforming semi-detached dwelling at 26 Major’s Path, located in the Industrial Commercial (IC) Zone. No changes will be made to the building’s footprint—only interior reconfiguration. Parking relief for one space was also requested, as only one space exists onsite. A stacked parking space is proposed, and the site is near a bus stop. A staff report was submitted in lieu of a full Parking Report.

Decision: Approved unanimously

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Approval-in-Principle was requested for a proposed five-storey, 78-unit apartment building at 5 & 7 Little Street. The unit mix includes 30 micro units, 40 one-bedroom units, and eight two-bedroom units, with 54 parking spaces provided — meeting the requirement. The proposal is a Permitted Use in the Apartment 2 (A2) Zone. A previous application was rejected in January 2025 due to concerns over building size and insufficient parking. The revised proposal addresses these issues, and preliminary review confirms the site can be serviced, has adequate access, and meets parking and zoning requirements.

Council members emphasized the importance of balanced decision making that promotes increased density while ensuring developments do not cause additional problems for residents.

Decision: Approved unanimously

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Council set Zone Standards for a Single Detached Dwelling in the Watershed Zone at 661 Thorburn Road. Although rebuilding was approved in 2022 and the house location set in January 2025, the applicant now wishes to relocate the dwelling. As per regulations, Council has discretion to determine the Zone Standards, which are proposed as:

• Building Line – 40.74m
• West Side Yard – 2.83m
• East Side Yard – 24.12m

Decision: Approved unanimously

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A Discretionary Use application was submitted for a bakery as a Home Occupation at 2 William Street, with operating hours Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The bakery will have no onsite retail, and sales will be delivered to markets and stores. The applicant is requesting parking relief, as no onsite parking is available. The applicant also requested a waiver of the parking requirement, with a staff report presented instead of a full Parking Report.

Six objections were received, raising concerns about traffic safety, congestion, parking, fire safety and noise. However, the applicant will have to follow all applicable code requirements for a home-based business. There is also no onsite retail, pickup or delivery of goods, and as such parking and traffic is not expected to be an issue.

Decision: Approved unanimously

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Council were asked to consider rezoning land at Curlew Place (500 Kenmount Road) from the Residential (R1) Zone to the Residential 2 (R2) Zone to allow the development of 18 semi-detached dwellings and one single-detached dwelling. The application was reviewed at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on April 1.

The site is within the Residential District of the Envision St. John’s Municipal Plan, which supports increased residential density. The proposed development aligns with the plan’s policy for diverse neighbourhoods. The site is near a wetland and floodplain, with certain development restrictions in place. Staff recommend accepting a report instead of a Land Use Report due to the scale of the project and suggest public notification once the site plan is finalized.

Decision: Approved unanimously

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Council were asked to consider rezoning 18 Campbell Avenue from Residential 2 (R2) to Residential 3 (R3) to allow the development of two semi-detached dwellings. The application was reviewed at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on April 1.

The property is in the Residential District of the Envision St. John’s Municipal Plan and Heritage Area 3. The rezoning is needed due to insufficient lot area and frontage to meet R2 requirements. The proposed development aligns with Municipal Plan policies promoting diverse housing types and infill development. A staff report is recommended in lieu of a Land Use Report and Heritage Report. The staff report will be completed following public consultation. Public notification will occur once the site plan and building design meet required standards.

Decision: Approved unanimously

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Council were asked to consider rezoning a portion of land at 425 Blackmarsh Road, between 418 Blackmarsh Road and 70 Welland Street, from the Apartment 2 (A2) Zone to the Residential 2 (R2) Zone to create a new lot for a single detached dwelling.

The application was reviewed at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on April 1.

The proposed development aligns with the Envision St. John’s Municipal Plan, which supports infill development and a mix of housing types. The surrounding area includes single detached dwellings, townhouses, and commercial uses. Staff recommend accepting a staff report instead of a Land Use Report, as the rezoning would reduce the density and only involve one new lot. Public notification is advised, as the development is small-scale and aligns with Municipal Plan policies.

Decision: Approved unanimously

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Council reviewed an application from CGI Development Inc. to support the development of a 90-unit semi-detached dwelling subdivision. The application was reviewed at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on April 1.

The application contained three decisions for council approval:

1. Consider redesignating 125 Southlands Boulevard from the Commercial District to the Residential District and rezone from the Commercial Regional (CR) Zone to the Residential 2 (R2) Zone for a residential;
2. Approve the terms of reference for a land use report for 125 Southlands Boulevard; and
3. Upon receiving a satisfactory land use report, that the application be advertised for public input and feedback.

The land, part of a larger wooded area, would retain a portion for future commercial use. The proposed development aligns with the Envision St. John’s Municipal Plan’s goals of increasing housing supply and creating diverse, walkable neighbourhoods. The rezoning would meet the plan's policies on affordable housing and diverse housing forms. Additionally, pedestrian connections will be considered in the design, and future intersection upgrades may affect the land at the corner of Southlands Boulevard and Gold Medal Drive. Council requested that staff include information regarding pedestrian connections, walking trails and other amenities for all future proposed greenfield developments.

Decision: Approved unanimously

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Following a commissioner’s public hearing, Council proceeded with the final steps in the amendment process for a rezoning application for 188 New Pennywell Road which seeks to seeks to change the land from Residential 1 (R1) and Rural (RUR) Zones to Residential 2 Cluster (R2C) Zone for a 32-unit townhouse development. A Municipal Plan amendment is also required to redesignate part of the land from Rural to Residential.

Council were asked to approve the land use report and the resolutions for Envision St. John’s Municipal Plan Amendment Number 14, 2024 and Envision St. John’s Development Regulations Amendment Number 40, 2024.

The commissioner’s report supports the proposal, noting that it aligns with good planning practices and housing policies. The report recommends approval of both amendments and suggests that the developer work to preserve existing trees and vegetation. The City also plans to sell a portion of nearby land to the developer, and the properties must be consolidated into one lot.

A detailed landscape plan will be required, and the applicant must comply with the City’s landscape development policy. A zone line interpretation will also be done for a small parcel at the rear of the lot. Minor changes to the land use report may be required during development, with any major changes needing Council approval.

Decision: Approved unanimously

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Council reviewed an information note related to Zone Lines for 250 East White Hills Road where the Province is relocating Her Majesty’s Penitentiary to a new facility. The City’s zoning lines were not updated with the correct property boundaries, resulting in part of the site being in the Rural (RUR) Zone, while most of it is in the Industrial Commercial (IC) Zone. After reviewing the updated boundary, City staff confirmed that the IC Zone can accommodate the new facility. To address this, the Chief Municipal Planner will interpret the zone lines so the entire property is zoned IC. A similar change will be made to the Envision St. John’s Municipal Plan to designate the site as Industrial instead of Rural. This adjustment follows the Envision St. John’s Development Regulations for interpreting zone boundaries.

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