City Council Meeting Recap: March 11, 2025
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The following is a recap of the City of St. John's Regular Council Meeting on March 11, 2025, which provides an overview of Council decisions. All related documents for the decisions below, video and the full agenda from the meeting is available by clicking the link below.
Council Honours Councillor Debbie Hanlon
Council paid tribute to Councillor Debbie Hanlon at this week's council meeting, who passed away on March 4. Councillor Burton read her obituary which was an outstanding recognition of her legacy and contribution to the City, while other council members shared memories and stories. Councillor Hanlon will be missed by all members of council, staff and the community.
The tribute is available on the video recording of the meeting.
Community and Capital Grants Approved
Council approved over $1.8 million for Community and Capital Grants. For 2025, community grants total $1,312,500 and capital grants total $489,630 plus $43,127 in waived permit and development fees.
This year’s Community Grant program provides assistance to 113 community organizations and 76 individual artists, with 38 new recipients.
For 2025, 11 organizations received Capital Grants, which are awarded to eligible applicants for capital purchases, such as building repairs or construction.
Development Applications:
Development applications are formal requests submitted to the City of St. John's by individuals, businesses, or developers seeking approval for projects that involve land use, building construction, or changes to property. These applications require council approvals and ensure that proposed developments comply with the City’s Envision St. John’s Development Regulations.
The following development applications were reviewed at the meeting:
Agriculture Zone Standards: 544 Foxtrap Access Road |
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A request was made for Council to establish zone standards for a Single Detached Dwelling associated with an existing Agricultural Use at 544 Foxtrap Access Road, an unserviced lot. The Agriculture (AG) Zone allows Council to set standards for such developments. The proposed development has been approved by the Land Development Advisory Authority under the Provincial Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture. The proposed zone standards include:
Decision: 8 approved, Councillor Davis rejected. |
Crown Land Grant: 2830 Trans-Canada Highway |
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A request was made to approve a Crown Land Grant for the property at 2830 Trans-Canada Highway. The Provincial Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture has referred an application to transfer ownership from a Crown Land Lease to a Grant for this 4.10-hectare parcel zoned Mineral Working (MW). The area is currently used for an office, garage, and storage.
Decision: Approved unanimously. |
Expansion of Single Detached Dwelling: 1005 Thorburn Road |
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A request has been made to approve a 34 square meter expansion to the existing Single Detached Dwelling at 1005 Thorburn Road, located within the Broad Cove Watershed in the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s. According to Section 104 (4)(b) of the City of St. John’s Act, Council can approve extensions to existing dwellings if necessary to provide adequate living space, provided the extension does not exceed half the cubic content of the original dwelling. The proposed 34m² expansion complies with this requirement.
Decision: Approved unanimously. |
Private Development in the Floodplain Buffer: 145 Aberdeen Avenue |
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A request was made for the servicing of a private development within the Floodplain Buffer at 145 Aberdeen Avenue. During the review of Stage 1 as-builts, it was noted that stormwater channeling was done in the Floodplain Buffer, which is classified as servicing for a private development. Under Sections 4.10(4) and (5) of the Development Regulations, Council may permit such servicing within the buffer. Before Council’s consideration, the application was referred to the Environment and Sustainability Experts Panel, who had no concerns with the work.
Decision: Approved unanimously. |
Public Works and Infrastructure in the Floodplain and Floodplain Buffer: 275 Southside Road |
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A request was made for the approval of new public works and infrastructure within the Floodplain and Floodplain Buffer at 275 Southside Road. The proposed stormwater infrastructure aims to address existing flooding issues by redirecting overland drainage from undersized sewers into new sewers, discharging into the Waterford River. Under Sections 4.10(4) and (5) of the Development Regulations, Council may approve public works within the Floodplain and Buffer. The application was referred to the Environment and Sustainability Experts Panel, who had no concerns with the proposal.
Decision: Approved unanimously. |
Parking Relief: 13 Lady Anderson Street |
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A request was made to relieve one parking space requirement for a second subsidiary dwelling unit at 13 Lady Anderson Street. The applicant is proposing a single detached dwelling with two subsidiary dwelling units and two parking spaces, but seeks relief for one space. The applicant's rationale is that there is an additional stacked parking space on-site, and tenants can coordinate parking use. Additionally, there is a bus route nearby on both Great Eastern Avenue and Petite Forte Drive. As per Section 8.12 of the Development Regulations, a Parking Report is typically required, but Council may accept a staff report instead, which is presented in this Decision Note.
Decision: Approved unanimously. |
Parking Relief: 50 Torbay Road |
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A request was made to relieve one parking space requirement for a second subsidiary dwelling unit at 50 Torbay Road. The applicant is proposing two parking spaces but seeks relief for one. The rationale provided is that there is an additional stacked parking space on-site, and the property’s walkability to nearby stores and its location on a major bus route may attract tenants without vehicles. According to Section 8.12 of the Development Regulations, a Parking Report is typically required, but Council may accept a staff report instead, as presented in this case.
Decision: Approved unanimously. |
Parking Relief: 15 Lady Anderson Street |
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A request was made to relieve one parking space requirement for a second subsidiary dwelling unit at 15 Lady Anderson Avenue. The applicant is proposing two parking spaces but seeks relief for one. The rationale for the relief includes the provision of an additional stacked parking space on-site and the possibility for tenants to coordinate parking use. The property is also within walking distance of bus routes on Great Eastern Avenue and Petite Forte Drive. As per Section 8.12 of the Development Regulations, a Parking Report is usually required, but Council may accept a staff report, as presented in this case.
Decision: Approved unanimously. |
Discretionary Use: 10 Crambrae Street |
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A Discretionary Use application was submitted for a Home Occupation bakery at 10 Crambrae Street. The bakery will occupy about 8.4m² and operate Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with online orders delivered by the operator or a service. There will be no on-site sales, and off-street parking is available. The property is zoned Residential 1 (R1). Four submissions were received, two in support and two opposed. Concerns were raised about the potential negative impact of another bakery, increased commercial traffic, rodent activity, and preserving the residential character of the area. However, the business is limited in size and intensity, with no retail onsite, to help maintain the neighborhood’s residential feel. Complaints regarding rodents can be addressed through 311.
Decision: Approved unanimously. |
Change of Non-Conforming Use: 38 Golf Avenue |
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A Change of Non-Conforming Use application was submitted for 38 Golf Avenue to convert a Convenience Store into a Bakery. The bakery will occupy 98m² on the main floor and operate Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., with retail hours from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Wednesday to Saturday. The property is zoned Residential 2 (R2). The parking requirement for the bakery will be determined by Council, with three parking spaces currently provided onsite (one for the dwelling unit and two for the business), plus available on-street parking. Ten submissions in support of the application were received.
Decision: Approved unanimously. |
Discretionary Use: 58 Golf Avenue |
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A Discretionary Use application was submitted for 58 Golf Avenue for a Home Occupation dog grooming business. The business will occupy 29m² and operate Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with services by appointment only and one client at a time. Off-street parking is available, and the property is zoned Residential 2 (R2). Six submissions were received — five in favor and one expressing concerns about parking, appropriate zoning, and potential future changes to operating hours. Home occupations are limited in size and intensity to maintain the residential character of the neighborhood. Any future change to hours would require a new application, public notification, and Council approval. On-street parking is available in the area.
Decision: Approved unanimously. |
Discretionary Use: 9 Bradbury Place |
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A Discretionary Use application was submitted for 9 Bradbury Place for a pet grooming salon. The business will occupy 139m² and operate Monday to Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with services by appointment only and up to two pets at a time. Off-street parking is available, and the property is zoned Residential 3 (R3). No submissions were received regarding the application.
Decision: Approved unanimously. |
Discretionary Use: 31 Peet Street |
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A Discretionary Use application was submitted by Black Tulle Boutique Ltd. for 31 Peet Street to operate a retail business. The shop will occupy 56m² and operate seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Onsite parking is available, and the property is zoned Industrial Commercial (IC). No submissions were received regarding the application.
Decision: Approved unanimously. Councillor Ridgeley abstained due to a conflict of interest. |
Sale of City Land
Council ratified an e-poll to approve the sale of City land at the rear of 5 Laggan Place. The owners of 5 Laggan Place are selling their property, but their shed, garage, and fence encroach on City land. Legal and the Parks Department have agreed to sell the encroached land, which will also square up the lot boundaries. The area to be sold is approximately 1,316.5 square feet, located within a Newfoundland Power Easement. The land is zoned R1, and its sale will be at fair market value, with the property owners responsible for surveys and land consolidation.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
Rezoning: 425 Blackmarsh Road (Welland Street)
A request has been made for council to consider rezoning land at 425 Blackmarsh Road from the Apartment 2 (A2) Zone to the Residential 3 (R3) Zone to create a new lot between 48 and 56 Welland Street for a Single Detached Dwelling. The site is in the Residential District of the Envision St. John’s Municipal Plan, so no plan amendment is required. The rezoning is needed because the proposed lot size does not meet the A2 Zone requirements, which are intended for higher-density developments like apartment buildings or townhouses. The applicant is requesting the R3 Zone to build a Single Detached Dwelling, but any R3 uses could be developed on the site if approved. Additionally, the applicant has requested to purchase City-owned land along the front lot line at Welland Street to enable the development. No development approvals can be issued until this land sale and consolidation are completed.
The proposed development aligns with the Municipal Plan's policy to support diverse housing types and infill development. The area already has a mix of single-detached houses, townhouses, fourplexes, and a commercial building. The applicant has submitted an initial site plan, but further details will be required at the development stage. As the proposal is for only one new lot and is a downzoning, staff recommend accepting a staff report in lieu of a full Land Use Report (LUR) and suggest public notification instead of a public meeting.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
Ground Signs: 9 Buchanan Street
A proposal has been submitted to install three illuminated ground signs outside the JAG Hotel extension at 9 Buchanan Street, facing Water Street, in Heritage Area 3. The signs will be placed in a public landscaped area owned by the City. Since the building is not designated as a Heritage Building, the signs are considered non-conforming as they exceed the limit of one ground sign per side of a building, as per the St. John’s Sign By-Law. The Built Heritage Experts Panel (BHEP) has reviewed the application and recommends approving the non-conforming signs, with conditions such as adding tactile characters, ensuring accessibility, and providing more contextual information on the historical photographs featured on the signs. The applicant has made revisions to include additional context on the photos, though tactile characters could not be added due to the signs’ location in garden beds. Despite this, the signs are seen as a complement to the public space, enhancing the experience for hotel guests, concertgoers, and passersby. The BHEP's recommendations and the proposed signs are now recommended for approval.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
Canada Games Mission 2 Reception
Council approval is being sought to host a reception for approximately 60 Canada Games Mission 2 staff on Thursday, May 15th, from 7-9 p.m. Mission 2 staff play a key role in supporting teams during the Canada Games. The reception will serve as the final meeting opportunity for the staff, representing 10 provinces and 3 territories, to conduct site visits and ensure their teams' needs are met. It will also provide a chance for the staff to network and collaborate in preparation for the 2025 Canada Summer Games in St. John’s.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
Special Events Regulatory Committee
Council approval is being sought for lane reductions related to the 2025 Shamrockin’ 5k road race on March 16, scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. A traffic control company will manage the lane reductions for the race route, which runs from Jack Astors on Harbour Drive to Water Street, then to Blackhead Road, and South Side Road, before repeating in the opposite direction. Participants will use the sidewalk, and lane reductions will be in place for safety. Vehicle traffic may be stopped for no more than 5 minutes.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
Travel Authorization
- Council approved costs related to City Manager Kevin Breen attending the Advantage St. John’s Networking Breakfast in Toronto on March 24, 2025. Representatives from the partnering municipalities for Advantage St. John's will be in attendance to promote the newly formed organization and economic development opportunities in the region.
- Council approved the travel costs for members of council to attend the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Annual Conference and Trade Show in Ottawa from May 29 to June 1, 2025. Mayor Breen and Deputy Mayor O'Leary will attend due to their roles on the Big City Mayor's Caucus and the FCM Board, while the Councillors Hickman, Noseworthy and Ravencroft will be attending as delegates.
Northeast Avalon Joint Council – Year End Social Sponsorship
Council approval is requested to provide a $3,000 sponsorship donation to the Northeast Avalon Joint Council (NEAJC) for its annual year-end social on June 19, 2025. The event will be catered for approximately 40-50 attendees. The City, as the largest municipal member of NEAJC, has historically supported the event.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
Tenders
A list of contracts awarded from February 5 to March 5 was shared for Council’s information.
Permits Issued
Council was provided with a list of Development Permits and Building Permits issued since the last council meeting for their information.
Weekly Payment Vouchers
Council approved the weekly payment vouchers for the period of February 26 to March 5.
Proclamations
The below proclamation took place at the meeting. All proclamations are also shared on our website.
Easter Seals Month, March 2025
Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O'Leary was joined by Easter Seals CEO Mark Bradbury to proclaim March 2025 as Easter Seals Month.
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