City defers Galway wetland issue
St. John’s staff reviewing submissions, including from developer Dewcor
St. John’s city council voted Monday to defer a decision on any change in city development regulations, for what is being referred to as the “Galway Wetlands.”
A proposed amendment to existing regulations, “to ensure the future protection of the wetland within the Galway development,” newly defines the wetland area and associated buffer zones.
It also contradicts what developer Dewcor had understood to be the protected wetlands.
“Galway worked side-byside with city staff to delineate wetlands and protected natural areas in 2014 and city staff signed off on a wetland and natural protected areas plan (confirmed by third party and evidenced with substantial paper trail),” Dewcor president Danny Williams stated in a seven-page letter protesting the change, part of a larger response to the proposed amendment.
Williams’ letter is just one submission now under review by St. John’s city council.
Another submission, from Ducks Unlimited Canada, was supportive of the proposed change in regulation, while a local resident asked council for more time to consider how their property might be affected (being adjacent to the Galway development, and reached by the newly proposed wetland boundaries).
More review is required, according to Coun. Maggie Burton, who spoke to reporters following the vote to defer the issue to a later meeting.
“One of the reasons for the deferral tonight is to get that clearer picture. There have been a lot of reports, some commissioned by the developer, in 2013, ’14 and ’15. There’s a big history of reports and we need to sort them out and see what’s what,” she said.
On the idea the Galway wetlands area was settled before development began, she said there were reports submitted by the developer that were never accepted by the city.
The decision to defer was recommended by staff.
The vote was unanimous. Burton said the additional time will allow for input from the city’s environment committee before any final vote is held.