Kitchissippi Ward

Office of Councillor Jeff Leiper

Category: Planning policy

  • Several big developments on the horizon

    It doesn’t rain, but it pours. Things have been fairly quiet on the development front in Kitchissippi without big approval battles for several years even as tower approvals march ahead without fanfare along Scott, Carling and elsewhere. Three recent proposals are out-of-the-ordinary, though, and I wanted to describe my approach to those anticipating that they…

  • 403 Richmond tower proposal

    I’ve received several inquiries about the advertisement recently posted online by Mastercraft Starwood showing a high-rise at 403 Richmond – currently the site of the Tubman Funeral Home. I will note first that the only development permission on the site is for nine-storey building to which Council gave its approval in 2021. Any further height…

  • Key changes in the second zoning by-law draft

    Good evening, Kitchissippi! Last week, city staff introduced a second draft of the new zoning by-law (NZBL). This draft will be received at a joint Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee and Planning and Housing Committee being held on Monday, March 31st. As you might expect, this draft is jam packed with new information, with a…

  • Parking minimums and the new zoning by-law

    Note from Jeff: I want to thank Ben Kerr-Wilson who is in my office for a few months as part of his course work for his government relations studies. He has been working on communications and briefing materials in support of some of the policy directions that I and the team are pursuing. Imagine for…

  • Transit dollars to flow but questions on quid pro quo

    There was a big splash yesterday as the federal government announced its significant new $30-billion public transit infrastructure fund. Residents can read the linked press release for the details, but I wanted to highlight this morning what the Prime Minister himself has called the “catch”, and the significant question I have today about what it…

  • Simple density calculator

    The new proposed zoning by-law proposes to largely do away with building types as the defining feature of a zone. Instead of prescribing that density is limited to, for example, a semi-detached, or row houses, the new zoning instead sets a cap on the number of units that can be developed on a lot. The…