Highlights from Town of Saint Andrews Council Meeting for May 6, 2024

The recent Town of Saint Andrews Council Meeting on May 6, 2024, focused on a wide range of issues. Key discussions included public hearings on amendments MP 20-08 and Z 22-06 for Lynn and David Mayo at 222 Prince of Wales Street. The Mayo family hopes to move their small business, The Wee Fabric Shop located in Market Square, to their residential property on Prince of Wales. Council made time to consider public objections to the proposed changes to the municipal plan and zoning bylaws, and their none during the meeting.

A significant topic was Amendment MP-29 to the municipal plan MP 21 and Amendment Z 22-08 to the zoning bylaw Z 22-01 for Charlie Bartlett at 232 Bayview Drive. This proposal involved plans for a retail fishmonger and other developments, with the council reviewing the potential impact on the community.

Council also addressed the resignation of William Young from the Bayside Port Corporation board and appointed David Archambault as his successor, recognizing the board's role in regional economic development.

Discussions also covered Canada Day events and street closures, ensuring logistical and safety considerations for celebrations. Canada Day annually draws up to 10,000 visitors to the town, requiring extra care and consideration. Updates on infrastructure projects, including the Van Horne Trail extension and the construction of a washroom building at Indian Point, were provided to enhance community amenities.

Council reviewed the progress of the 2023 audit and discussed scheduling a special meeting for the auditors' presentation.

Mayor Brad Henderson highlighted development proposals by InnVest, the new owners of the Algonquin Resort, which would involve rezoning for new projects like replacing the O'Brien House, a currently condemned building, with new employee lodging for senior staff.  InnVest also wants to build a luxury Nordic spa near Fort Tipperary. 

"I've had the opportunity to meet with InnVest Hotels in their management a number of times," said Mayor Henderson. "The investment that they are making into the hotel is greatly appreciated. When you look at projects like these two, I think the merit of both projects have a lot of benefit for our community. We obviously have some housing shortages in our community. I would go as far as to say O'Brien has been almost an unsightly premise in this community for a number of years. So the fact that they are investing in their employees to have a better place to live and to hopefully be able to recruit managers better, it makes a lot of sense. And of course, every unit that they get for their management means that another unit in our community can be open. So everybody benefits from this project."

Henderson said he needs to see more plans for the Nordic spa since the design elements are not visible enough in the initial renderings and the council and the Heritage Committee need to ensure the designs are in keeping with the historical nature of the town.

Fiscal reform and local governance discussions included the Chief Administrative Officer's participation in a working group exploring new funding models without increasing the tax burden on residents.

The meeting also addressed the municipal plan and zoning bylaw updates for St. Andrews, including Bayside and Chamcook, with four consultation sessions planned to gather resident input.

Public works updates focused on spring cleanup efforts, and the recreation manager shared plans for Canada Day activities, aiming to cater to the community's interests. Concerns about garbage pickup and the growing bear population were discussed, with strategies to mitigate wildlife interactions.

The council approved road closures for Canada Day events, considering traffic flow and parking availability. A proclamation recognizing the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia was passed, promoting LGBTQ+ rights and community diversity.