Charlottetown city council has scheduled a public meeting in early September to gather feedback from residents on the proposed new zoning and development bylaw for the city. This bylaw outlines the rules for construction and placement of buildings within Charlottetown. Following multiple open house sessions, Coun. Alanna Jankov, the city’s deputy mayor, mentioned that staff are currently reviewing the feedback received.
Jankov, who leads the planning and heritage committee, expressed the importance of residents attending the meeting to ask questions and seek clarification. She emphasized the council’s focus on addressing concerns related to the bylaw’s impact on residents, particularly regarding the provision allowing for up to four units in certain residential areas.
One key requirement highlighted by Jankov is that property owners seeking to convert their residence into multiple units must have it as their principal residence. The city also provides a zoning map to illustrate the residential zones where the four-unit provision could apply.
Charlottetown faced a setback of $1.26 million from the federal government due to delays in implementing the new zoning and development bylaw. The city’s non-compliance was identified during an annual review of its commitments under the Housing Accelerator Fund agreement signed with the federal government in 2024.
With a municipal election approaching in November, Jankov expressed her hope that the council will finalize the bylaw before the election, emphasizing the importance of completing the work initiated during the current term. Additionally, Coun. Mitchell Tweel suggested advertising the public meeting in a local newspaper, a proposal supported by Jankov to enhance community engagement.
The council aims to ensure that the meeting is adequately promoted to attract a wider audience, potentially running full-page ads multiple times to meet legislative requirements and maximize participation.
