Charlottetown city council has scheduled a public meeting early in September to gather feedback from residents regarding the proposed new zoning and development bylaw for the city. This bylaw outlines the rules for construction and its placement within Charlottetown. According to Coun. Alanna Jankov, who serves as the city’s deputy mayor, there have been multiple open house sessions, and the staff is currently reviewing the feedback received.
Jankov, who also chairs the planning and heritage committee, expressed the hope that attendees at the meeting will ask questions and seek clarification on the proposed bylaw. She emphasized the council’s directive to focus on the aspects of the bylaw that will impact residents based on the feedback received.
One of the main concerns raised by residents, highlighted by Jankov and some councillors, is the provision for adding up to three additional units to their primary residence in certain residential areas. Jankov anticipates that the public meeting will help explain the details within the extensive 200-page draft document.
In order for residential property owners to convert their property into multiple units, it must be their primary residence as stipulated by the bylaw. There is also a zoning map available to indicate the residential zones in the city where the provision for up to four units may apply.
The city faced a setback when Ottawa clawed back $1.26 million due to delays in implementing the new zoning and development bylaw, which included the provision for four units as-of-right. Charlottetown entered into an agreement with the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund in 2024, requiring adjustments to building permits and zoning regulations as part of the agreement.
With a municipal election scheduled for November in Charlottetown, Jankov is pushing for the council to finalize the bylaw before the election. She expressed confidence in completing the work initiated during the current term. Coun. Mitchell Tweel suggested placing a full-page advertisement in a local newspaper to promote the public meeting, a suggestion that Jankov supports to ensure maximum outreach and participation.
The upcoming public meeting is crucial for residents to voice their opinions and concerns on the proposed bylaw, and it is essential for the city council to address these issues promptly.