MUNICIPAL PLAN 2015 - 2025 TOWN OF TOWNPORT AUOF CHOIXYARMOUTH | SEPTEMBER 2015 | CONTACT INFORMATION: 100 LEMARCHANT ROAD | ST. JOHN’S, NL | A1C 2H2 | P. (709) 738-2500 | F. (709) 738-2499 WWW.TRACTCONSULTING.COM MUNICIPAL PLAN 2015 - 2025 Contact Information: Neil Dawe, President 100 LeMarchant Rd. St. John’s, NL A1C 2H2 T: 709.738.2500 F: 709.738.2499 www.tractconsulting.com TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose & Role of Municipal Plan ................................................................................ 1 1.2 Municipal Planning Area ............................................................................................... 1 1.3 Plan Content ................................................................................................................. 2 1.4 Public Consultation ....................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Adoption, Approval, & Registration of the Plan ........................................................... 4 1.6 Administration & Effect of Municipal Plan ................................................................... 4 1.7 Relationship to Other Plans .......................................................................................... 5 1.8 Interpretation of Planning Terms ................................................................................. 6 1.9 Amending the Plan ........................................................................................................ 6 Table 1 ........................................................................................................................... 8 2.0 UNDERSTANDING THE COMMUNITY ............................................................ 9 2.1 Town of Port Au Choix .................................................................................................. 9 2.2 Local Population Characteristics ................................................................................. 16 2.3 Housing Profile ............................................................................................................ 19 2.4 Economic Setting ........................................................................................................ 20 2.5 Community Planning Approach .................................................................................. 22 2.6 Global Planning Challenges ......................................................................................... 23 2.7 Policy Statements of the Municipal Plan .................................................................... 24 2.7 Community-Wide Policies & Government Referrals ................................................. 25 2.7.1 Access to a publicly maintained street ............................................................ 26 2.7.2 Non-conforming uses ...................................................................................... 26 2.7.3 Non-compliant uses ......................................................................................... 26 2.7.4 Public utilities .................................................................................................. 26 2.7.5 Protection of historic and natural resources ................................................... 27 2.7.6 Protection of public access to shorelines and traditional rights-of-way ......... 27 2.7.7 Steep slopes, hazardous areas, and vulnerable lands ..................................... 27 2.7.8 Waterways, waterbodies and wetlands .......................................................... 27 3.0 PLANNING GOALS & OBJECTIVES ............................................................. 28 3.1 Planning Goals ............................................................................................................ 28 3.2 Planning Objectives..................................................................................................... 29 Planning Goal # 1 ........................................................................................................ 29 Planning Goal # 2 ........................................................................................................ 30 Planning Goal # 3 ........................................................................................................ 30 Planning Goal # 4 ........................................................................................................ 31 Planning Goal # 5 ........................................................................................................ 31 3.3 Land Use Designations ............................................................................................... 32 4.0 SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT POLICIES ................... 33 4.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 33 4.2 Environmental Sensitive Areas Mapping Inventory ................................................... 34 4.3 Municipal Water Supply.............................................................................................. 35 4.4 Environmental Setbacks ............................................................................................. 36 4.5 Climate Change Risks .................................................................................................. 37 4.6 Visual Environment ..................................................................................................... 39 4.7 Environmental Partnerships ....................................................................................... 40 4.8 Archaeological Resources ........................................................................................... 41 5.0 RESIDENTIAL LAND USE POLICIES ............................................................ 43 5.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 43 5.2 Single Unit Residential ................................................................................................ 44 5.3 Higher Density Residential POLICIES ........................................................................... 46 5.4 Seniors Housing .......................................................................................................... 47 6.0 COMMERCIAL, TOURISM, & INDUSTRIAL ECONOMIC GROWTH ............. 48 6.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 48 6.2 Commercial Land Use ................................................................................................. 49 6.3 Tourism Development ................................................................................................ 51 6.4 Industrial Opportunities .............................................................................................. 55 6.5 Comprehensive Development Areas .......................................................................... 57 7.0 RURAL LANDS & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ........................................... 59 7.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 59 8.0 COMMUNITY FACILITIES & PUBLIC USES .................................................. 61 8.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 61 9.0 TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE .................................................. 63 9.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 63 10.0 MUNICIPAL GOVERNANCE APPROACH ..................................................... 65 10.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 65 11.0 PLAN IMPLEMENTATION .............................................................................. 68 11.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 68 11.2 Council Role ................................................................................................................ 69 11.3 Monitoring & Review .................................................................................................. 70 11.4 Municipal Plan Map .................................................................................................... 70 APPENDIX A:SUMMARY OF USES ALLOWED BY FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION ........................................................................................................ 73 APPENDIX B: PLANNING INFORMATION MAP ................................................... 75 APPENDIX C: AMENDMENTS TO THE MUNICIPAL PLAN .................................. 77 APPENDIX D: FUTURE LAND USE MAP .............................................................. 79 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 PURPOSE & ROLE OF MUNICIPAL PLAN The purpose of the Municipal Plan (2015-2025) is to provide for the management of land use, water and other resources within the Town of Port au Choix through policy attention to environmental and conservation, residential, commercial, industrial, mixed development, community and public use, recreational assembly, and comprehensive development area land uses, as well as tourism, municipal infrastructure,