Quidi Vidi property owner turns down numerous offers
Plans to build two saltbox-style homes off Barrows Road
Presenting the plans for his family’s land in Quidi Vidi, Randy Ring told the St. John’s city council he’s had a lot of offers from people looking to buy the property over the years.
They’re offering big money, too, in some cases and have shared their thoughts on potential projects that are not necessarily new homes, he said.
The Ring land is found not far from the Quidi Vidi Brewery and Mallard Cottage, off Barrows Road.
“I’m not a millionaire. I haven’t got lots of money, but I tell them that property is not for sale,” Ring told city council during a session on planning and development, within the Committee of the Whole meeting at city hall on Wednesday.
Ring said he wants to see the land used to support the village, the longstanding community of individuals and families.
“It’s sad to see sometimes
what is happening, but we need to keep it as Quidi Vidi as much as we can,” he said.
The Ring family is proposing a project of their own, involving two saltbox houses. The plan is one will go to Ring’s son.
“Our family is down in Quidi Vidi since the 1800s. They said we rowed over from Ireland with hurling sticks,” he told the council, before taking questions.
He mentioned previously looking to build, back as far as 1985, but explained he ended up in dispute and hitting up against questions of title. That is now established, he said.
The issue now is zoning. The land at 30 Barrows Rd. is currently zoned as open space, as opposed to residential. That resulted in an application for re-zoning, with 36 Barrows Rd. also potentially to be re-zoned for residential.
The city’s Quidi Vidi Village Overlay Zone and Design Guidelines report from 2015 suggests the change to residential
is possible. The report recommended a new Quidi Vidi zone be established in the area, permitting the kind of single, detached homes the Rings are looking to build.
“This report remains to be finalized and incorporated into the pending new Envision St. John’s Development Regulations,” notes a council briefing note.
It mentions hilly, rocky land at the back of the Ring’s property would be kept as open space and city engineers have no issues at this point with the re-zoning as suggested.
The application for re-zoning will next go to a public meeting for discussion, including with other area residents.
Mayor Danny Breen laid out the process, including the public meeting, a subsequent council debate and then a public commissioner’s hearing, before the project might be given a green light.