Zoning By-law Reform

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The City of Saint John invites residents to attend the Zoning Bylaw Reform Public Hearings at the Planning Advisory Committee and Common Council

The City of Saint John is in the process of undertaking zoning bylaw reform and is inviting residents to provide feedback as part of the public hearing process at the Planning Advisory Committee meeting of November 26th and the Common Council Meeting of December 16th. All relevant materials will be published on the PAC and Council agenda the Thursday before the meeting. For more information please explore this page further.


Dates:

Council: 6:30 PM, Monday December 16th, 2024

Place:

Council Chamber at City Hall. Access to the Council Chamber is via the elevator in the Shoppes of City Hall pedway connection.


Check here to see if your property is affected:

https://saintjohn.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=a1e21951c0b94e559f59cc66cbc02e5d


About the Reform Initiative

Purpose


The City of Saint John has initiated reform of it's existing Zoning By-Law to facilitate diversity in housing supply. The Zoning Bylaw Reform will address "missing middle" housing development and infill redevelopment in the City's existing neighbourhood's. Zoning reform is increasingly being used to address the issue of "missing middle" housing, which refers to a category of housing types that fall between single-family homes and high-density apartment buildings. The concept of "missing middle" housing targets the gap in housing options that often leads to a lack of affordable, moderate-density housing in many urban areas. More detailed information on “missing middle” housing can be found below.


Goals


To meet the objectives of the City of Saint John Affordable Housing Action Plan and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation'sHousing Accelerator Fund Program. The City intends to create a supportive regulatory framework designed to encourage gentle density and promotion of diverse housing options by:


  • Building on the current Zoning By-Law framework to further support gentle density development in terms of ground oriented residential, residential conversions, increased housing along transit corridors, and to provide more opportunities for students in post-secondary school locations.
  • Review the current Zoning By-Law to determine where encouraging residential intensification in commercial areas makes the most sense.


Outcomes: Improving Housing Diversity & Affordability


Housing diversity refers to a mix of different housing types, sizes, and price ranges in a community. Diverse housing in the City of Saint John pertains mainly to ground-oriented residential development. Ground-oriented residential development refers to housing types and designs that emphasize accessibility and interaction with the street or ground level, as opposed to vertical, multi-story structures. This approach focuses on creating neighborhoods where homes are directly connected to the street, promoting a sense of community and enhancing the livability of residential areas. Ground-oriented residential development includes single-family homes, low and mid-rise apartments, townhouses, affordable housing units, and more. Having a range of housing choices helps prevent market imbalances that may lead to housing shortages, inflated prices, or urban sprawl. By catering to different preferences and needs, a diverse housing market can distribute demand more evenly across various housing types and locations. Single-family detached homes and high-rise apartments, being the most expensive options in the housing market, are significantly impacting affordability. The City of Saint John Zoning By-Law Reform aims to address housing diversity and affordability, through:


  • Rezoning of lowdensity, serviced, one and two-unit Residential zones (R1 & R2), to permit up to four dwelling units.


  • Bylaw revisions to existing serviced urban and suburban residential intensification areas to permit up to six dwelling units.


  • Bylaw revisions to increase density along key roadway corridors and in post-secondary educational neighbourhoods.


  • Bylaw revisions to the existing Mid-Rise Residential (RM) zone standards, including permitting building heights to 6 stories and necessary revisions to setbacks and other site standards required to approve 6 story heights.


  • Increasing options for the development of accessory dwelling units (secondary suites and garden suites).


  • Review and confirm best practices, with respect to the 2023 Zoning Bylaw amendments for supportive housing and supportive facility uses, to encourage affordable housing opportunities for these uses within low density zones.


What does Gentle Density Housing mean?


"Gentle density housing" refers to a housing approach that increases residential density in a gradual and non-disruptive way. It aims to enhance urban environments by adding more homes or units without drastically altering the character of established neighborhoods. This approach focuses on integrating new housing in a way that respects existing community aesthetics and maintains a balance between growth and livability.


What does Missing Middle Housing mean?



“Missing middle housing” refers toground-oriented housing types that fall somewhere in between a single-detached home and mid-rise apartment buildings– such as garden suites, secondary suites, townhomes, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes where units have direct ground floor access.


Common missing middle and gentle density housing types include;


  • Duplexes and Triplexes: Multi-unit buildings with two or three separate living units.


  • Fourplexes: Buildings with four separate units.


  • Townhouses: Multi-story homes sharing walls with adjacent units, often with a small front or back yard.


  • Low-rise Apartments: Small apartment buildings with typically fewer than four stories.


  • Courtyard Buildings: Multiple units arranged around a shared courtyard or communal space.


  • Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU): A secondary housing unit on the same property as a primary residence.


  • Back Yard or Garden Suites: Small, detached units located in the backyard of an existing home. They offer additional living space and can be used for rental purposes or extended family accommodation.


These housing types are characterized by their ability to offer a balance between the density of high-rise buildings and the lower density of single-family homes. They often provide more affordable and varied housing options compared to larger apartment complexes or detached single-family homes. For more information on “Missing Middle Housing” and “Gentle Density Housing” click here.


What does Missing Middle Housing look like and where may it be situated?


Addressing the Issue


The City of Saint John recognizes the importance of missing middle housing and is taking the following steps to address its absence:

  • Zoning Bylaw Reform: Updating zoning regulations to allow for a wider variety of housing types and densities can help integrate missing middle housing into existing neighborhoods.
  • Community Engagement: Involving the community in the planning process to address concerns and build support for new development to help mitigate resistance to missing middle housing.

By addressing the issues, the City of Saint John can work towards creating more inclusive, affordable, and diverse housing options for residents. The residents of Saint John are invited and encouraged to become involved in the engagement process to share concerns and suggestions to advancing middle housing in the City. Please visit the engagement links below to view the timing of upcoming events and to share your comments and suggestions.


Building the New Bylaw

Process & Schedule


City Locations and Zoning Affected

The summary updates to the City’s zoning fabric will be visualized through the City of Saint John geographic information system (GIS) mapping system to show the new zoning classification and areas covered by the changes. The zones being considered for updating are as follows:

Current Zoning Regulations for Impacted Zones
Residential Zoning
Commercial Zoning

R1 - One Unit Residential

R2 - Two-Unit Residential

RL - Low-Rise Residential

RM - Mid-Rise Residential

RSS - Suburban Residential

CG - General Commercial

CR - Regional Commercial

CR-R - Regional Commercial Residential

CM - Mixed Commercial



Follow the link below to view the zoning in the City's GIS mapping and to search your address.


https://saintjohn.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=a1e21951c0b94e559f59cc66cbc02e5d


Disclaimer: The mapping information provided is solely for the proposed Zoning By-law Reform and is for informational purposes only. This mapping information does not constitute a legal document. For official records, users should verify details with the Growth & Community Services Department of the City of Saint John before making any decisions based on this data. They can be reached at planningadmin@saintjohn.ca or 506 658-4455.



If you missed the Zoning By-law Reform Project Launch open house, a summary of the key information is available below:

ZBL Reform Overview Presentation


Share Your Feedback

Help identify potential errors, unintended outcomes and improvements to the Zoning Bylaw Reform. Share your individual comments, concerns, and questions by sending an email to:

SJcommunityplan@saintjohn.ca


Additional information will be made available to the public as the process progresses through future phases.

The City of Saint John invites residents to attend the Zoning Bylaw Reform Public Hearings at the Planning Advisory Committee and Common Council

The City of Saint John is in the process of undertaking zoning bylaw reform and is inviting residents to provide feedback as part of the public hearing process at the Planning Advisory Committee meeting of November 26th and the Common Council Meeting of December 16th. All relevant materials will be published on the PAC and Council agenda the Thursday before the meeting. For more information please explore this page further.


Dates:

Council: 6:30 PM, Monday December 16th, 2024

Place:

Council Chamber at City Hall. Access to the Council Chamber is via the elevator in the Shoppes of City Hall pedway connection.


Check here to see if your property is affected:

https://saintjohn.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=a1e21951c0b94e559f59cc66cbc02e5d


About the Reform Initiative

Purpose


The City of Saint John has initiated reform of it's existing Zoning By-Law to facilitate diversity in housing supply. The Zoning Bylaw Reform will address "missing middle" housing development and infill redevelopment in the City's existing neighbourhood's. Zoning reform is increasingly being used to address the issue of "missing middle" housing, which refers to a category of housing types that fall between single-family homes and high-density apartment buildings. The concept of "missing middle" housing targets the gap in housing options that often leads to a lack of affordable, moderate-density housing in many urban areas. More detailed information on “missing middle” housing can be found below.


Goals


To meet the objectives of the City of Saint John Affordable Housing Action Plan and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation'sHousing Accelerator Fund Program. The City intends to create a supportive regulatory framework designed to encourage gentle density and promotion of diverse housing options by:


  • Building on the current Zoning By-Law framework to further support gentle density development in terms of ground oriented residential, residential conversions, increased housing along transit corridors, and to provide more opportunities for students in post-secondary school locations.
  • Review the current Zoning By-Law to determine where encouraging residential intensification in commercial areas makes the most sense.


Outcomes: Improving Housing Diversity & Affordability


Housing diversity refers to a mix of different housing types, sizes, and price ranges in a community. Diverse housing in the City of Saint John pertains mainly to ground-oriented residential development. Ground-oriented residential development refers to housing types and designs that emphasize accessibility and interaction with the street or ground level, as opposed to vertical, multi-story structures. This approach focuses on creating neighborhoods where homes are directly connected to the street, promoting a sense of community and enhancing the livability of residential areas. Ground-oriented residential development includes single-family homes, low and mid-rise apartments, townhouses, affordable housing units, and more. Having a range of housing choices helps prevent market imbalances that may lead to housing shortages, inflated prices, or urban sprawl. By catering to different preferences and needs, a diverse housing market can distribute demand more evenly across various housing types and locations. Single-family detached homes and high-rise apartments, being the most expensive options in the housing market, are significantly impacting affordability. The City of Saint John Zoning By-Law Reform aims to address housing diversity and affordability, through:


  • Rezoning of lowdensity, serviced, one and two-unit Residential zones (R1 & R2), to permit up to four dwelling units.


  • Bylaw revisions to existing serviced urban and suburban residential intensification areas to permit up to six dwelling units.


  • Bylaw revisions to increase density along key roadway corridors and in post-secondary educational neighbourhoods.


  • Bylaw revisions to the existing Mid-Rise Residential (RM) zone standards, including permitting building heights to 6 stories and necessary revisions to setbacks and other site standards required to approve 6 story heights.


  • Increasing options for the development of accessory dwelling units (secondary suites and garden suites).


  • Review and confirm best practices, with respect to the 2023 Zoning Bylaw amendments for supportive housing and supportive facility uses, to encourage affordable housing opportunities for these uses within low density zones.


What does Gentle Density Housing mean?


"Gentle density housing" refers to a housing approach that increases residential density in a gradual and non-disruptive way. It aims to enhance urban environments by adding more homes or units without drastically altering the character of established neighborhoods. This approach focuses on integrating new housing in a way that respects existing community aesthetics and maintains a balance between growth and livability.


What does Missing Middle Housing mean?



“Missing middle housing” refers toground-oriented housing types that fall somewhere in between a single-detached home and mid-rise apartment buildings– such as garden suites, secondary suites, townhomes, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes where units have direct ground floor access.


Common missing middle and gentle density housing types include;


  • Duplexes and Triplexes: Multi-unit buildings with two or three separate living units.


  • Fourplexes: Buildings with four separate units.


  • Townhouses: Multi-story homes sharing walls with adjacent units, often with a small front or back yard.


  • Low-rise Apartments: Small apartment buildings with typically fewer than four stories.


  • Courtyard Buildings: Multiple units arranged around a shared courtyard or communal space.


  • Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU): A secondary housing unit on the same property as a primary residence.


  • Back Yard or Garden Suites: Small, detached units located in the backyard of an existing home. They offer additional living space and can be used for rental purposes or extended family accommodation.


These housing types are characterized by their ability to offer a balance between the density of high-rise buildings and the lower density of single-family homes. They often provide more affordable and varied housing options compared to larger apartment complexes or detached single-family homes. For more information on “Missing Middle Housing” and “Gentle Density Housing” click here.


What does Missing Middle Housing look like and where may it be situated?


Addressing the Issue


The City of Saint John recognizes the importance of missing middle housing and is taking the following steps to address its absence:

  • Zoning Bylaw Reform: Updating zoning regulations to allow for a wider variety of housing types and densities can help integrate missing middle housing into existing neighborhoods.
  • Community Engagement: Involving the community in the planning process to address concerns and build support for new development to help mitigate resistance to missing middle housing.

By addressing the issues, the City of Saint John can work towards creating more inclusive, affordable, and diverse housing options for residents. The residents of Saint John are invited and encouraged to become involved in the engagement process to share concerns and suggestions to advancing middle housing in the City. Please visit the engagement links below to view the timing of upcoming events and to share your comments and suggestions.


Building the New Bylaw

Process & Schedule


City Locations and Zoning Affected

The summary updates to the City’s zoning fabric will be visualized through the City of Saint John geographic information system (GIS) mapping system to show the new zoning classification and areas covered by the changes. The zones being considered for updating are as follows:

Current Zoning Regulations for Impacted Zones
Residential Zoning
Commercial Zoning

R1 - One Unit Residential

R2 - Two-Unit Residential

RL - Low-Rise Residential

RM - Mid-Rise Residential

RSS - Suburban Residential

CG - General Commercial

CR - Regional Commercial

CR-R - Regional Commercial Residential

CM - Mixed Commercial



Follow the link below to view the zoning in the City's GIS mapping and to search your address.


https://saintjohn.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=a1e21951c0b94e559f59cc66cbc02e5d


Disclaimer: The mapping information provided is solely for the proposed Zoning By-law Reform and is for informational purposes only. This mapping information does not constitute a legal document. For official records, users should verify details with the Growth & Community Services Department of the City of Saint John before making any decisions based on this data. They can be reached at planningadmin@saintjohn.ca or 506 658-4455.



If you missed the Zoning By-law Reform Project Launch open house, a summary of the key information is available below:

ZBL Reform Overview Presentation


Share Your Feedback

Help identify potential errors, unintended outcomes and improvements to the Zoning Bylaw Reform. Share your individual comments, concerns, and questions by sending an email to:

SJcommunityplan@saintjohn.ca


Additional information will be made available to the public as the process progresses through future phases.

Page last updated: 03 Dec 2024, 06:16 AM