Text Amendment - Housing
The City is considering a text amendment to the St. John’s Development Regulations, that will enable a greater variety of housing types in residential zones. The proposed text amendment will support the City's action plan to stimulate housing growth, which is supported by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Housing Accelerator Fund.
A Municipal Plan Amendment is not required. Generally, the proposed amendment includes:
- Remove the Pocket Neighbourhood (PN) Zone and add Pocket Neighbourhood as a Discretionary Use to the Residential 2 (R2), Residential 3 (R3), Residential Downtown (RD), and Residential Mixed (RM) Zones. Set use standards for Pocket Neighbourhoods in each zone.
- Add Triplex as a Permitted Use to the R2 Zone, R3 Zone, RD Zone, RM Zone, Apartment 1 (A1) Zone and Apartment 2 (A2) Zone. Set use standards in each zone.
- Add Four-Plex as a Permitted Use to the R2 Zone and A1 Zone. Add Four-Plex on a Corner Lot as a Permitted Use to the Residential 1 (R1) Zone. Add Four-Plex use standards to each zone.
- Add Tiny Home Dwelling to R2 Zone and RM Zone and set use standards.
- Allow Backyard Suites (a dwelling unit in the backyard of a residential lot) in various residential zones. A Backyard Suite will require a minimum of one parking space.
- Allow two Subsidiary Dwelling Units in Single Detached Dwellings, and one Subsidiary Dwelling Unit in Semi-Detached Dwellings or Townhouses.
- Create a new Cluster Development use to allow multiple buildings (Townhouse, Triplex, Four-Plex or Apartment Building) on one lot and set use standards in each zone. Cluster Development will be added to any zones that permit Apartment Building.
- Move Apartment Building, maximum 6 dwelling units, from a Discretionary Use to a Permitted Use in the R2, R3, RD and RM Zones.
- Increase the maximum building height for:
- Single Detached Dwellings from 8m to 9m
- Semi-detached Dwellings and Four-Plexes from 8m to 10m.
- Apartment Buildings from 12m to 14m in the A1 Zone and from 40m to 52m in the Apartment 3 (A3) Zone.
You can learn more about this text amendment on the Planning St. John’s webpage. The Planning St. John's webpage allows the public to learn more about planning applications, track progress, give feedback and ask questions all in one place.
Public Meetings
The City will be hosting the following public meetings to receive feedback on the proposed text amendment. All comments made during both public meetings will be included in a report to Council.
In-Person Meeting:
- Date: Wednesday, May 22, 2024
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Location: Foran/Greene Room, Fourth Floor, St. John’s City Hall.
Virtual Meeting:
- Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Registration required to receive the Zoom link.
Comments
Provide your comments to the Office of the City Clerk including your name and address to cityclerk@stjohns.ca or P.O. Box 908, St. John’s NL A1C 5M2.
Comments received become a matter of public record and are included in the Council agenda for the date a decision on the application will be made. Any identifying information (including your name) will be removed prior to your comment being released publicly. If you are writing on behalf of a group, organization, business, etc. and wish to remain anonymous, you must indicate as such with your submission.
Collection of personal information is authorized under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 and is needed to consider your comments on this application. Questions about the collection and use of your information may be directed to the City Clerk at 709-576-8619 or cityclerk@stjohns.ca.
Comment By
9:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Additional Information
For more information call 709-576-6192 or email planning@stjohns.ca.
The Newfoundland & Labrador Public Libraries have Wi-Fi available in the parking lot of each library location if a resident has their own device: Arts & Culture Centre (125 Allandale Road, St. John's), Marjorie Mews Library (12 Highland Dr, St. John's), and Michael Donovan Library (655 Topsail Rd, St. John's).
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