Homeowners who live along a two-block stretch of Main Street North could soon be able to obtain mortgages and insurance once city hall changes their zoning classifications.
During the Nov. 8 regular meeting, city council voted unanimously to have city administration prepare a public notice and bylaw change to rezone the 1000 and 1100 blocks of Main Street north to R2 medium-density residential district and R3 high-density residential district from CS community service institutional district.
Furthermore, council waived the need for large signage announcing the change due to the existing residential development and waived public information sessions due to the pandemic.
City hall’s planning and development department will advertise the public notice for two weeks and send notices to affected property owners and adjacent owners within 90 metres of the area.
“The purpose of the changes is to legalize the existing uses, which city administration has identified as inappropriately zoned,” Michelle Sanson, director of planning and development, said in her report.
Affected homeowners have been unable to obtain mortgages or insurance from their lending institutions because of the current zoning designations.
Council approved a bylaw in July to amend the zoning for those two blocks to residential from commercial on the future land use map, she continued. The provincial government then approved the map amendment in September, which means rezoning is the final step in the process.
The affected properties include 46 one-unit dwellings, four multi-unit dwellings and one board apartment, Sanson said. City administration identified R2 and R3 as appropriate zoning districts for this area; R2 allows for medium-density dwellings — one-unit and multi-unit — while R3 allows for high-density dwellings such as multi-unit and boarding apartments.
Both zoning districts would also allow other complementary uses in those areas.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Nov. 22.
