Council considered a proposal from Bristol Development Inc. to rezone land from the Commercial Neighbourhood (CN) and Residential 1 (R1) Zones to the Apartment 2 (A2) Zone to allow a Cluster Development of seven apartment buildings at 424 Kenmount Road. A portion of the site, located within the Commercial District, will require a Municipal Plan amendment to re-designate it to the Residential District.

The buildings will be 3.5 storeys tall (12.2 meters), which is below the 24-meter height limit for this zone. The site is 1.71 hectares (4.2 acres) and is next to Ken Brook. The development aligns with Envision St. John’s Municipal Plan policies promoting a variety of housing types, higher-density developments along major transportation routes, and infill development using existing infrastructure. The land is suitable for residential use, with nearby commercial properties able to meet future commercial demand.

The developer will need to submit a Land Use Report (LUR) and consult with local residents. There will also be public notices and a public hearing to discuss the proposal.

Decision: Approved unanimously

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Baker Flooring has submitted a Discretionary Use application for a retail space at 60 O’Leary Avenue. The proposed retail use will occupy 200m² with operating hours of Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The site, zoned Industrial Commercial (IC), includes on-site parking. No public submissions were received regarding the application.

Clarke’s Trucking and Excavating Limited has submitted a Discretionary Use application and Crown Land Grant request for a 6.39-hectare quarry extension on Incinerator Road. The extension, in the Industrial General (IG) Zone, will be used as a stockpile and laydown yard for existing materials and infrastructure, with no buildings proposed. The application follows a referral from the Provincial Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture. If the Crown Land Grant is approved, a development plan must be submitted, and no work is permitted in floodplain or wetland areas or their buffers. No public submissions were received.

Decision: Approved unanimously

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Decision: Approved unanimously

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An application has been submitted to approve a 6.12% variance on the lot area for 50 Shoal Bay Road, reducing it to 1899.2m² in the Rural Residential Infill (RRI) Zone, where the minimum requirement is 2023m². This follows a 2022 reconfiguration of civic 46 and 50 Shoal Bay Road and a subsequent 2023 Crown Land Grant referral to perfect the property title. A strip of land along Mill Road was reserved for potential future public infrastructure, contributing to the reduced lot size. Section 7.4 of the St. John’s Development Regulations allows variances of up to 10%.

A request has been submitted for Council approval to modify the interior of an existing non-conforming building at 117 Newtown Road to create a Four-Plex by adding two additional residential units. The building, located in the Residential 2 (R2) Zone, is non-conforming due to insufficient Rear Yard (1.22m) and Side Yard (3.59m) setbacks. Per Section 7.5.3(a) of the St. John’s Development Regulations, changes to non-conforming buildings require Council approval. The proposed internal modifications will not increase the building's non-conformity.

An application has been submitted for a 10% variance to reduce the Rear Yard setback to 5.4m and to establish a reduced building line of 5.12m for a Single Detached Dwelling at 130 Diamond Marsh Drive. The property, zoned Residential 1 (R1), requires a minimum Rear Yard setback of 6m and a minimum Building Line of 6m under the Development Regulations. The variance and reduced building line are requested due to the narrow depth of the lot, with the proposed home footprint being the smallest practical size. Notices were sent to neighbouring property owners, and no concerns were received.

Decision: Approved unanimously

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The developer at 5-7 Little Street seeks approval for a revised Land Use Report, approval-in-principle, and parking relief for a proposed 96-unit apartment building in the Apartment 2 (A2) Zone. Initially rezoned in 2021 for a Personal Care Home, the site now proposes a mix of units: 30 micro, 56 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom. The development provides 56 parking spaces but requires relief for 16 spaces (22% shortfall) as micro-units do not require parking.

Public consultation revealed concerns about traffic, parking congestion, loss of privacy, green space and sewer capacity. The developer addressed these by removing four units, reconfiguring parking, and adding bike storage, emphasizing the proximity to Memorial University and public transit for alternative transportation. At the January 14 Council Meeting, a petition was also brought forward by Councillor Davis on behalf of 150 residents of the Little Street area to reduce the size of its building to accommodate parking for its tenants.

Traffic Engineering found no issues with traffic impact, and local parking restrictions may limit overflow parking congestion. However, neighbouring residents petitioned for reducing the building size to increase parking.

Decision: 7 rejected, Councillor Burton and Ravencroft were in favour.

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