City Council Meeting Recap: November 26, 2024

- Nov 29, 2024

The following is a recap of the City of St. John's Regular Council Meeting on November 26, 2024, which provides an overview of Council decisions. You can also view all related documents for the decisions below, video and the full agenda from the meeting by clicking the link below.

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New Collective Agreement Reached with International Association of Firefighters Local 1075

Council ratified a new collective agreement between The City of St. John's/St. John's Regional Fire Department and IAFF Local 1075. The new collective agreement, which is effective from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2026, includes a total wage increase of 7% over four years.

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265 LeMarchant Road

Council approved a Heritage Report and discretionary use application for 265 LeMarchant Road, the former West End Fire Station. The project involves adding two storeys to the existing structure, creating a four-storey building with 20 residential units (16 two-bedroom and 4 one-bedroom) and 20 parking spaces. The project aligns with the discretionary use provisions for Heritage Use in this zone.

Public consultation resulted in four supportive submissions. The Heritage Report, reviewed by staff and the Built Heritage Experts Panel (BHEP), adheres to the City’s Heritage Design Standards. While the BHEP recommended changes to balcony design, the applicant retained the original proposal but made updates based on other suggestions.

Decision: Approved unanimously.

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725 Southlands Boulevard

The City received an application from Galway Residential GP Inc. to amend the Planned Mixed Development 1 (PMD1) Zone by reducing lot frontages, expanding a stormwater management area, and revising trail and open space locations. The changes require an amendment to the Envision St. John’s Development Regulations. This is not a development approval, rather addresses zoning issues that will affect future development applications.

Key highlights of the proposal include:

  1. Traffic Impact: A transportation study showed negligible impact, with less than 20 additional vehicles per hour during peak times. Staff found no issues.
  2. Parking Concerns: The proposed reduction to one parking space per dwelling aligns with city standards. On-street parking will also be permitted outside winter restrictions.
  3. Personal Care Homes: The proposal includes adding Personal Care Home as a possible use for certain lots. This aligns with city policies supporting age-friendly neighborhoods and is similar in scale to the previously planned apartment buildings.
  4. Open Space and Trails: The total open space will decrease slightly (from 16% to 14%) but remains above the 10% minimum requirement. Trail routes are conceptual and will ensure accessibility. Green space concerns about private treed areas were clarified, as these are not included in public open space calculations.

Public consultation saw mixed feedback. While some residents supported the changes, others raised concerns about traffic, parking, noise and reduced green space.

The proposed changes increase housing density slightly (adding 34 units for a total of 652) and align with Municipal Plan policies promoting diverse housing and mixed-use development.

More information on the application can be found on the project page on Planning St. John's.

Decision: Approved unanimously.

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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 November 26 meeting:

An application was submitted to construct a four-plex at 9 Anderson Avenue under the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). The project requires Council approval to reduce the building line setback from 6 meters to 3.6 meters and grant a 10% variance to reduce the side yard setback to 5.4 meters. These adjustments align with neighboring developments and will not impact snow storage or sight lines. While one objection was raised concerning tenant behavior, parking, debris and snow piling, these issues were addressed through proper channels, with some being civil matters.

Decision: Approved unanimously.

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The Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture referred an application for a Crown Land License to occupy 25.8 hectares near George’s Pond Road, zoned as Comprehensive Development Area 9 (CDA 9). The land's future use is unspecified, and no development is proposed at this stage. Development in CDA areas requires an approved development plan. The land is part of the draft Kenmount Concept Plan, which outlines future zoning and servicing. Releasing this Crown land is deemed premature due to the recent provincial hospital announcement and the need for further design work to finalize servicing plans for the area. As such, staff recommended that Council reject the application.

Decision: Council rejected the application (6-2), with Deputy Mayor O'Leary and Councillor Hickman voting against the staff recommendation.

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In 2021, the City of St. John’s rezoned 5 & 7 Little Street from Residential 2 (R2) to Apartment 2 (A2) for a Personal Care Home. The applicant now proposes a 20-meter-tall (4-6 storeys) apartment building with 100 one-bedroom units, a permitted use in the A2 Zone. Council were asked to accept a revised Land Use Report (LUR), give approval–in–principle for the project and approve parking relief for 51 parking spaces (103 required).

The community has raised concerns through the public engagement process about issues like sewer capacity, traffic, parking, loss of sunlight, privacy, and the increase in building height compared to the original 3-4 storey plan. Technical reviews indicate no significant impacts on traffic or sewer systems.

Councillor Ridgeley moved to defer the application, citing the need for additional information.

Decision: Deferred (8-1) to the December 10 Council Meeting. Councillor Burton voted against the deferral.

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Art Procurement Recommendations

Council approved the purchase of artwork submitted to the 2024 Art Procurement program. The City’s Art Procurement program acquires artwork from individual artists and commercial galleries for its Civic Art Collection, displayed in City Hall, other City buildings and public exhibitions like those in Wyatt Hall. This year, 94 artists submitted 249 pieces (up to three per artist) for consideration. A jury of visual art experts selected 24 artworks for purchase during a virtual meeting on November 22, 2024. The total cost of the selected pieces is $19,960, just under the $20,000 annual budget.

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St. John’s Climate Resilient Coastal Communities Partnership Project

The City of St. John’s is considering a financial contribution to the Atlantic Infrastructure Management (AIM) Network’s Climate Resilient Coastal Communities Project. This initiative, funded primarily by Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN), will assess climate risks to St. John’s Harbour and develop adaptation strategies. The City’s financial contribution, matched by NRCAN up to 75%, supports project goals including advanced modeling of storm surges, flood risk assessments, action plans for coastal climate impacts, and funding-ready cost estimates for priority adaptation projects.

The project, running from September 2024 to March 2027, offers benefits such as expert insights, actionable plans, and alignment with national and provincial climate strategies. The City’s proposed financial contribution is $33,000 over three fiscal years, alongside $15,000 in in-kind staff contributions. This partnership will enhance readiness for climate challenges while fostering sustainable financing strategies for future projects.

Decision: Approved unanimously.

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Appointment: Shea Heights Community Centre Board

Council approved the appointment of Theresa Minnett to the Shea Heights Community Centre Board to fill the “at large” category and Gail O’Neill to fill the vacancy of “NL Housing tenant” category of the Board.

Petition

Councillor Ridgeley submitted a petition on behalf of residents near Claddagh Road in the Southlands Subdivision. The residents are opposed to all revisions that would change the Galway "Stage 1" Development Plan, specifically the inclusion of a five-storey personal care home on Claddagh Road. Councillor Ridgeley advised Council and the residents that he had spoken with the developer concerning the project, and an apartment building is intended for the site and not a personal care home. There are 70 signatures on the petition.

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 period of November 7 to November 20.

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