Chamberlains land split draws street’s attention
By Craig Westcott
CBS council has approved the splitting of land at 42 Uplands Road, Chamberlains to make room for more housing despite the objections of neighbours.
The property already contains a large house split into four apartments. The owner wants to subdivide the land to allow a second structure, either “a single detached dwelling, with or without a subsidiary apartment, or a double dwelling,” according to a briefing note prepared for council.
The applicant, Uplands Road Complete Capital Inc., needed council’s approval for a variance from the development regulations to allow for a smaller side yard setback to accommodate the development.
Council voted its approval at its August 11 public meeting.
Four submissions were received after council advertised the application, one in favour of it and three opposed.
Those against it raised concerns about increased residential development on the street, which is composed mostly of large single-family homes on large lots, the “uncharacteristic” development of the area, inadequate parking, increased traffic, and potential impacts on town infrastructure. There were also concerns about “inadequate road connectivity” in case the area ever has to be evacuated due to an emergency.
In other development news:
Council has waived over $7,200 in permit fees for the Salvation Army’s expansion to its church at 331 Conception Bay Highway in Long Pond.
The church has tagged the estimated cost of the expansion at $4.5 million.
Because it is a place of worship, the church is exempt from property taxes, but the Salvation Army does pay water and sewer tax on the property.
A briefing note provided to council, noted CBS doesn’t have a policy on waiving permit fees for community groups, but pointed out the Town did waive the fees for an expansion to the CBS Lions Club building in Long Pond to eventually house the CBS – Paradise Food Bank.
In the case of the church, the expansion will include public showers in case the Church ever has to accommodate residents in an emergency. The Church already has an agreement with the Town to serve as a warming centre. The expansion includes construction of a commercial kitchen for the warming centre.
Things are looking up, literally, for construction in CBS’s regional centre zone. That’s the area in the Gateway off Legion Road where the Town plans to build a new sports and community centre.
Council has approved an increase in building height for the area to 20 metres, five metres higher than under the old rules.
The change will allow the proposed steel arch for the 8,900 square metre community centre which is expected to rise to some 19 metres at its peak.
A commissioner has been appointed to hold a public hearing on an application to rezone land from 175-185 Monument Road to 251 Spruce Hill Road.
That’s an area from the end of Monument Road running along the T’Railway towards a property near the end of Spruce Hill Road.
The area is split between two zones – Residential Low Density and Open Space Conservation. The owner needs the conservation status removed in order to build a new house and accessory buildings on Monument Road.
At 251 Spruce Hill Road, which already has a house, the owner wants to subdivide the land to accommodate another building lot. The owner is also looking to acquire a “sliver” of Crown Land between the property and the T’Railway. Most of the land is zoned Open Space Conservation.
Former St. John’s deputy mayor Marie Ryan has been appointed to serve as the commissioner.
Council has agreed to sell some 425 square metres of land at 18 Tobins Place in Manuels to the owner of 16 Tobins Place for $67.23 per square metre. That works out to $28,573.
The sale enables the owner of 16 Tobins to meet the minimum side yard setback for an expansion to his home.
The Town took over ownership of the land in 1983 for a possible road connection from Tobins Place to Cherrington Place and Elliots Place.
Council has been advised by staff that the construction of the road is now unlikely.
The Town is keeping enough of the land to protect a sanitary sewer line that runs through 18 Tobins Place and allow for the passage of stormwater. The northside of the land runs along the T’Railway.
The purchaser is responsible for the legal and surveying costs associated with the sale along with a $500 administration fee.
And finally, council has adopted changes to the Town Plan and development regulations to allow for the construction of an ATV bypass trail on the southside of Peacekeepers Way.
The Town still has to acquire Crown Land from the Province to host the trail.
The changes to the rules state that any “new or proposed all-terrain vehicle trails should be located such that there is no impact on the peaceful enjoyment of residential properties. All terrain vehicle trails and routes must include provision for traffic controls such that road vehicle and active transportation modes will be given right of way priority.”