City council has approved a zoning change in Southlands that will pave the way for the development of a subdivision in the area, which currently consists primarily of single-detached housing.
That’s one reason why Ward Councillor Donnie Earle voted against the motion, saying that people bought homes there based on zoning of the day which did not allow duplexes.
The property in question, on Southlands Boulevard, had been zoned commercial until yesterday’s council meeting.
Councillor Earle is also concerned about congestion and snow removal.
Ward 5 Councillor Donnie Earle (St. John’s City Council)
“I witnessed the snowclearing first-hand last winter and it just wasn’t safe to try to get out of the driveway,” said Coun. Earle.
He says now, people are going to see housing going up on small lots.
Deputy Mayor Ron Ellsworth was disappointed with those comments, saying the city is in desperate need of housing.
“The development regulations that we adopted in 2024 were for a mixed neighbourhood,” said Ellsworth. “Without mixed neighbourhoods and mixed development, affordability of housing will never come down and we’ll have these 50×100 lots with $500,000 and $600,000 houses being built on them,” said the deputy mayor. “Entry-level people will never be able to get a place to live in the community, a place to work, or a place to be involved in the community.”
