Region of Queens Deputy Mayor Maddie Charlton wants a ‘comprehensive review’ of the municipal planning strategy and land use bylaw. (Rick Conrad)

Region of Queens councillors are considering an overhaul of the rules that govern what people and businesses do with their properties.

Regional council voted unanimously on Tuesday evening in favour of Deputy Mayor Maddie Charlton’s motion for a “comprehensive review” of the municipal planning strategy and land use bylaw “with particular focus on commercial uses and allowances within residential zones, regulation and permitting of short-term rentals, the keeping of livestock within residential and rural zones, light pollution mitigation and related dark sky considerations, coastal protection measures and climate resilient land use provisions, and minimum property standards.”

She said she wants staff to prepare a report in time for the Dec. 9 council meeting “outlining proposed consultation timelines, engagement methods and anticipated resource requirements to support this review process.”

The municipality adopted a new planning strategy and bylaw in 2022 after three and a half years of review and community consultation. Charlton was a member of council for that process.

“We have had some things pop up that are proving to be challenging,” Charlton said, “other things that I think maybe we didn’t think of during that timeframe. … I think we do need to address the issues in our land use bylaw.”

Charlton didn’t offer specifics, but councillors have wrestled since the spring with a request to turn the old Stedman’s building at 194 Main St. into apartments. 

Developer Eric Fry originally wanted the building to be only residential, despite municipal rules that require at least half of a downtown building’s ground floor be for commercial use.

The region is in the process of changing the land use bylaw to allow Fry to include a much smaller commercial footprint.

Charlton, who chairs the municipality’s planning advisory committee, told councillors that some people want more flexibility to open businesses in their houses.

Currently, the land use bylaw essentially prohibits retail and other commercial operations in residential zones, though there are some exceptions for artists and other small home-based businesses.

“I think some of our measures are a bit too strict and they’re restricting economic development in Queens,” Charlton said. 

Mayor Scott Christian said it’s standard practice to review a new bylaw after two years. Plus, he said, residents have raised concerns with parts of the bylaw that he says are “clunky”.

“In this term of council we’re really focusing on making sure we’re striking that balance to foster a business friendly environment, to addressing affordability issues. And I think some provisions within the municipal planning strategy and land use bylaw don’t resonate entirely with the strategic vision and direction that this council wants to take the organization.”

He said council wants professional advice from staff on a “laundry list of items”.

“(The bylaw) doesn’t do enough to give us a strong sense and deliberate approach to managing short-term rentals. It doesn’t strike the right balance in its approach to homesteading. It’s too blunt in its restrictions of the type of commercial activity that can happen in general residential areas.”

In 2022, many residents cried foul over proposed changes to homesteading rules. People who kept chickens or small numbers of other animals on their properties were worried that the bylaw would interfere with their ability to produce food for themselves and others. 

Those concerns overshadowed many of the other significant changes in the comprehensive bylaw overhaul.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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Public hearing on Queens proposed land use bylaw. Photo Ed Halverson

At a third and final public hearing in Liverpool Queens residents were vocal that a proposed new land use bylaw shouldn’t change the face of rural Queens.

The crowd gathered at the Liverpool Fire Hall took the opportunity to tell Region of Queens council some of the new regulations introduced in the bylaw would interfere with their ability to produce and raise food for their families and community.

Ria Neish is raising 40 chickens and three pigs on 300 acres of land in South Brookfield.

Neish doesn’t feel it’s reasonable to ask someone like herself who is not running a commercial farming operation to apply for permits to be allowed to supply food for themselves.

“Food is deplete in the grocery stores. The animals are treated deplorably in the grocery stores. That is why we live where we live. To raise animals well. To let them live full, happy, fulfilled life, living all their instincts out,” said Neish. “That’s why we’re doing what we’re doing and the fact that I would have to ask permission for that I do object to that.”

Frank Babin of Moose Harbour is concerned enforcing regulations on rural communities will change the culture in Queens.

He wants the region to allow people to continue to live as they have for hundreds of years.

“Especially the kids, ‘cause that’s who I’m thinking of. They used to go by and say hey look at that horse, look at that cow,” said Babin. “I don’t want to see that taken away ‘cause we are a rural community.”

Mayor Darlene Norman says some of the permitting requirements are there to ensure the region is aware of what kinds of activities are taking place on a piece of land.

“A development agreement is just in place to note that in addition to residential, there’s also household livestock as part of that main use, is how it was explained to me,” said Norman.

After reflecting on the discussion, the mayor is concerned that people feel the region is trying to force urban values on rural areas when in fact they’re designed to keep urban uses out of those rural areas.

“These documents actually protect rural interests like livestock farming, like household livestock, like forestry uses. It zones these wharves and says these are fishing marine areas,” said Norman. “So, I sometimes wonder if people have misinterpreted the value of them. Because the majority of our lands are rural, and they allow rural uses.”

Now that the second public hearing sessions are complete, the proposed bylaw will go back to council for consideration at their next meeting May 24.

Council will review the public input and determine whether to make any adjustments before voting on the bylaw.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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