Paradise cedes ground to Portugal Cove

By Mark Squibb/February 17, 2022

While the population of Paradise grew by seven percent in the most recent census, the town itself may grow a little smaller physically— by about 2.75 hectares to be exact.

During this week’s meeting, Planning and Protective Services Committee chairperson and Deputy Mayor Kim Street brought forward the motion to accept the Paradise/Portugal Cove-St. Phillips Boundary Adjustment feasibility report.

Street explained the towns had agreed to adjust their municipal boundaries to accurately reflect development and service responsibilities within the Country Garden subdivision.

“The requested adjustment would correct a 2.75 hectare encroachment of land serviced by the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Phillips but which is currently in the Town of Paradise’s boundary,” said Street.

As per the Municipalities Act, both towns had undertaken a feasibility study as part of the municipal boundary readjustment process. The study, said Street, had to include analysis of existing conditions, tax and capital considerations, and a public comment period to allow for feedback from the public. That public comment period was open from May 18, 2021 until June 18, 2021, and generated five responses.

Of those five responses, three were requests for the draft report, while two were letters of concern.

“Residents expressed concerns about the intention of the requested boundary change, as well as apprehension around future development of land adjacent to their properties, which would be within the Town of Paradise,” said Street.

The feasibility study determined the adjustments were reasonable and would have minimal impact on town operations and residents on affected properties. The study recommend that the minister approve the proposed adjustment.

That study was submitted to the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs in January for ministerial approval.

Council voted unanimously to accept the feasibility study final report.

“I just want to say how happy I am to see this finally coming to council,” said councillor Elizabeth Laurie. “This has been on the go long before I ever was on council, and it was an issue in 2009 when I first sat on the planning committee. This has been a long time coming and has been a lot, a lot of work to get here.”