CBS to amend regulation to pave way for community centre

by Mark Squibb, The Shoreline

The Town of Conception Bay South will be hosting a public consultation session regarding a proposed amendment to allow increased building height in the Gateway commercial park.

The amendment, which will see the maximum building height increased from 15 metres to 20 metres, is required ahead of the construction of the new community centre.
The town had initially planned to construct a dome structure, and had previously amended the regulation to allow construction of a 30-metre tall dome.

“We had this same type of stakeholder consultation last year when we made the decision to go with the dome for the lifestyle centre, and of course, as the public is aware, we changed from the dome structure to an actual steel structure,” explained councillor Gerard Tilley, who broached the matter during the June 16 public meeting. “So, the amendment last year was specific to a dome, and so we have to have the same stakeholder consultation in regard to this building this year.”

The $16 million, 100,000 square-foot dome facility was approved in January 2025, with the provincial government ponying up approximately half the cost.

This last April, council opted instead for a more traditional steel structure, citing a $4 million cost increase that would put the project at about $20 million.

The steel structure will cost about $22 million upfront, but is expected to have a lower annual operating cost.

The amendment is not town-wide but specific to the Gateway area atop Legion Road.

No date has been set yet for the public consultation.