Entrance to Region of Queens council chambers. Photo Ed Halverson

The May 9 Region of Queens Council meeting may have been the shortest in recent memory.

There were no petitions, presentations, public comments or discussion items, leaving just two recommendations for council to consider.

The first was a request from the Liverpool Junior Hockey Association for $7,215.53 in funding from the Region’s Community Investment Fund.

The association hosted the Don Johnson Memorial Cup at Queens Place from April 25-30 at a total overall budget of $99,724.25.

The cup is the Junior B hockey championships for Atlantic Canada, won this year by the Antigonish Junior B Bulldogs.

The Liverpool Junior Hockey Association applied to receive up to 12.5 percent funding on $57.724.25 in eligible expenses.

Staff recommended the association receive the funding and council approved.

The only other recommendation was for council to decide on a variance appeal for a proposed increase to the number of units included in the construction of a new building behind 87 Bristol Ave in Liverpool.

A hearing was held ahead of the council meeting for residents to present their objections to the increase and for the developer to provide their response.

In the end, council decided the developer was following the regulations set out in the municipality’s Land Use Bylaw and Municipal Planning Strategy and denied the resident’s appeal, permitting the construction of the 45 units at the location instead of the initial 36.

The meeting concluded in less than 20 minutes.

The next Region of Queens Council meeting will be held May 23 at 6:00pm in council chambers.

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

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.

Traffic study by Harbourside Transportation Consultants from Region of Queens variance appeal agenda

A development on Bristol Avenue in Liverpool will be building more units than initially planned.

The numbered company 4206749 Nova Scotia Limited led by Francis Fares had proposed the construction of 36 units in a building located behind 87 Bristol Ave.

The company no wants to build 45 living spaces within the same footprint by decreasing the size of each unit.

Several neighbours spoke against the increase at a variance appeal meeting held before the most recent Region of Queens council meeting on Tuesday.

They raised concerns that more units would mean increased traffic, less available street parking and impacts on the adjoining waterway.

Under the Region of Queens zoning regulations, the area is zoned R3, which allows high density housing.

Greg Zwicker, a planner with Zzap Consulting spoke via Zoom on behalf of the developer.

Zwicker says he hears the residents’ concerns and is willing to discuss how the development plan answers each one.

But regarding this specific appeal, Zwicker says the building meets all the municipality’s height, parking, yard, setbacks and coastal protections requirements and also respects the buffer from the water.

He says the changes they are requesting are in line with the intent of the Region’s development rules.

“That building as you’ve seen as drawn is permitted in the zone under your land use bylaw and your municipal plan,” said Zwicker. “What we’re asking is to put eight more units in that building.”

Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman says council must follow their own rules in the Land Use Bylaw and Municipal Planning Strategy. And while some neighbours may not be pleased, council had to agree with Zwicker’s interpretation.

“So, the question simply is: have all the requirements been met from the applicant? The height is legal, the footprint is legal, the buffers are legal. The applicant simply wishes to place more smaller units in the size of a building that is legal. That is what council has to consider.”

After some discussion during the council session, councillors voted unanimously to reject the variance appeal, permitting the developer to build the increased number of 45 units.

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

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.