Port Colborne having another public meeting for zoning bylaw
Port Colborne city council has voted to have an additional public meeting about the municipality’s new zoning bylaw.
Although unnecessary since staff and council have met all requirements of the Planning Act, council voted in favour of having an additional meeting at the request of resident Jack Hellinga Monday night.
Port Colborne CAO Scott Luey said Hellinga cited “substantial changes” to the draft bylaw presented at the Feb. 12 meeting as to why he thought there should be another public meeting.
As an example, at that meeting, a delegate enquired about zoning for three specific properties, which was set to change in the new bylaw. The delegate said the owner had purchased the property with the intent to build on it and then learned the zoning for it would change; the delegate was there on behalf of the owner, asking if the zoning could remain the same. A vote through council deemed it could.
There were also questions about the quarry zoning and what was meant by accessory coverage that were addressed at the time.
At the end of that meeting, the draft bylaw was approved. The bylaw was set to come back before council at a later date to be finalized, but now before that happens this additional meeting will take place for public information.
The public meeting will take place March 26 in council chambers at 6: 30 p. m. This is a regular meeting night, but the public meeting will be the first item addressed for the evening.