Charlottetown’s city council is organizing a public meeting scheduled for early September to gather feedback from residents regarding the proposed new zoning and development bylaw for the city. This bylaw outlines the regulations for construction and location of buildings within Charlottetown. Deputy Mayor Alanna Jankov mentioned that there have been multiple open house sessions, and the council is currently reviewing the feedback received.
Jankov, who heads the planning and heritage committee, expressed hope that attendees at the public meeting would actively engage, ask questions, and seek clarification on the proposed changes. She emphasized the council’s focus on addressing residents’ concerns, particularly regarding the provision allowing property owners to add up to three additional units to their homes in specific residential zones.
One major issue highlighted by Jankov and some council members is the concept of four units as-of-right, where homeowners could potentially convert their properties into multiple units. Jankov stressed that such conversions are only permissible if the property serves as the owner’s primary residence. She also mentioned the existence of a zoning map indicating applicable residential zones within the city.
The city faced a setback with a $1.26 million funding clawback from the federal government due to delays in implementing the new zoning and development regulations, including those related to the four-unit provision. Charlottetown had signed an agreement with the federal government under the Housing Accelerator Fund in 2024, requiring adjustments to building permits and zoning to comply with the terms of the $10 million agreement.
As Charlottetown gears up for a municipal election in November, Jankov expressed her desire for the council to finalize the bylaw before the election takes place. She emphasized the importance of completing the work initiated during the current term and expressed confidence in the council’s ability to bring the process to a satisfactory conclusion.
Councillor Mitchell Tweel suggested running a full-page advertisement in a local newspaper to promote the upcoming public meeting, a proposal supported by Jankov. She stressed the importance of meeting the legislative advertising standards and hoped that the ad campaign would attract a larger audience to the meeting. Jankov also endorsed Tweel’s suggestion of running the advertisement multiple times for increased visibility.