Open House Story Boards

Web Update 2

Since the project launched, the project team analyzed the current Zoning By-law and compared it to statutory community planning policies such as the Brokenhead River Planning District (BRPD) Development Plan and Provincial legislation to identify sections of the Zoning By-law that might need to be updated. The team also interviewed Town administration, the Brokenhead River Planning District (BRPD), the Province’s Community Planning Branch, and local stakeholders to learn how the current Zoning By-law supports or is a barrier to different types of development. 

The results from the technical analysis and the interviews are outlined in an Options & Directions Report, which is the first major project milestone. The intent of this report is to serve as a basis for discussion around potential changes before the new Zoning By-law is drafted. To read the full report, click HERE or continue reading below for a quick summary.

What changes are being proposed?

Overall, much of the Zoning By-law is working well so many of the upcoming changes will refine the existing by-law rather than overhaul it. The Town, BRPD, stakeholders, and the project team identified the following major directions for the update:

• The by-law will be reviewed to ensure language is clear and precise, as some wording in the current by-law can be vague or open to interpretation. That said, the intention behind most regulations will stay the same even if wording is refined. 
• The new by-law will enable more types of residential development to accommodate the anticipated population growth in Beausejour over the coming decades. For example, secondary suites would be allowed in all single-detached homes and plex-type housing would have more permissive zoning rules in medium residential density areas. 
• Most zones will remain, except for the R4 Zone, as it was scarcely used. Any land currently zoned R4 will be rezoned. Conversely, a new CG (Commercial General) Zone will be added to accommodate medium scale commercial development, bridging the gap between the smaller scale commercial development typically seen on Park Avenue (Central Commercial Zone) and the larger scale commercial development typically seen close to the highway (Commercial Highway Zone).
• Parking regulations will be re-evaluated to ensure there is an appropriate supply of parking throughout the Town. For example, some office-type developments are required to provide more parking than others, resulting in an overabundance of parking in some locations. At the same time the upcoming changes to Park Avenue, spearheaded by the Province, will decrease on-street parking supply downtown, putting more demand on existing parking space in the area. Elsewhere, parking regulations for some medium density residential developments result in an undersupply of off-street parking and therefore more demand for nearby on-street parking.  

In addition to the above, and a variety of proposed minor tweaks, the Options & Directions Report also provides a summary of what we heard from stakeholders, a draft Table of Contents for the new Zoning By-law, and marked-up zoning maps. To see the current Zoning By-law and map, go to www.townofbeausejour.ca/p/by-laws.

How can I learn more and get involved?

We are planning an open house on March 18 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm to share a progress update and discuss the potential changes outlined above with the community.  

To leave a comment for the project team, follow the link below:  www.surveymonkey.com/r/LRRVKB9. 

Web Update 1

In November 2024, the Town of Beausejour hired CVLNS, a community planning consultant, to review and update the Town’s Zoning By-law. The process will be done in three phases:

Where does the Zoning By-law apply?

The Zoning By-law covers all the land within the Town of Beausejour’s boundaries:

What is a Zoning By-law?

A Zoning By-law is a regulatory document, required by the Province, that creates rules and standards for development.

The Zoning By-law divides the land up within the Town into different Zoning Districts (or Zones) based on what it is allowed to be used for. For example, the Town’s current Zoning By-law has five different residential zones for different densities and building types, two commercial zones, an industrial zone, a parks zone, and an institutional zone. 

The Zoning By-law dictates what land uses are allowed in each Zoning District. For example, an elementary school would be allowed in the institutional zone, but not in the industrial zone. Next, the Zoning By-law sets out standards for development, like density restrictions, height restrictions, and parking requirements. 

Why Update the Zoning By-law?

Since the Town’s Zoning By-law was adopted in 2018, a new Development Plan for the region (the Brokenhead River Planning District) was adopted. According to Provincial rules, the Zoning By-law must comply with the Development Plan. As such, a big part of this project will be to align the Zoning By-law with the new Plan. 

This is also a chance to keep up with new development trends, fix issues within the document, and address emerging concerns within the Town. 

How will the new Zoning By-law affect me?

For any existing building that was built legally, there will be no impacts. The Town will reach out to you if your property will be rezoned as part of this project, but we are not expecting many developed properties to be rezoned. 

Any new construction, including additions, garages, and sheds, will have to conform to the new rules once they are in effect. 

How will the new Zoning By-law affect my community?

The new Zoning By-law will have the biggest impact on new development, which will have to follow the new rules around:

• Where new residential, commercial, and industrial development can happen
• How close new buildings can be to the property line
• How tall new buildings can be
• The density of new residential buildings
• How much parking is required for a new development
  
  

How can I learn more and get involved?

To see the current Zoning By-law and map, go to www.townofbeausejour.ca/p/by-laws.

We are planning an open house in Spring 2025 to share a progress update. Stay tuned for details and invitations.

To leave a comment for the project team, follow this link:  www.surveymonkey.com/r/LRRVKB9.