Planning Advisory Committee and the Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission
The Town of Saint Andrews has contracted planning and building inspection services with the Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission. This service will continue and be offered to the Wards of Bayside and Chamcook. Under the planning process, the Wards of Bayside and Chamcook will also be regulated by the Planning Advisory Committee of the Town of Saint Andrews.
The Planning Advisory Committee consists of volunteer members from the community, governed under the Community Planning Act and Town By-Laws, that act as an independent body to give views to Council on
- Proposed By-Laws or on any change to a proposed By-Law after it has been given First Reading.
- Prohibit the erection of any building or structure on any site where it would be otherwise be permitted when, in its opinion, the site is marshy, subject to flooding, excessively steep or otherwise unsuitable by virtue of its soil or topography.
- Permit or prohibit development for a temporary period not exceeding 1 year or for an additional temporary period not exceeding 1 year.
- Impose terms and conditions for a particular purpose if the purpose is so identified within the Zoning By-Law.
- Permit, subject to possible terms and conditions, a reasonable variance from the requirements of the Zoning By-Law relating to topics specified within the Community Planning Act.
- Extend the normal discontinuance period of 10 months for consideration of non-conforming use.
- Permit a structure to be repaired or restored if the property has non-conforming rights and is destroyed greater than 50%.
- Provide consent for a non-conforming use to extend into a portion of a structure constructed by the By-Law come into effect.
- Provide consent for non-conforming use to be changed to similar non-conforming use.
- If given the authority to do so, within the Subdivision By-Law, approve such access to a proposed subdivision, other than by way of a public street, that is considered advisable for the development of the land.
- If given the authority to do so, within the Subdivision By-Law, the Development Officer shall not approve a Subdivision Plan if, in the Officer's and PAC's Opinion
- The land is not suited to be the purpose for which it is intended or may not reasonably be expected to be used for that purpose within a reasonable time after the Subdivision Plan is approved or
- The proposed manner of the subdividing will prejudice the possibility of further subdividing the land or the convenient subdividing of adjoining land.
- If given the authority to do so within the Subdivision By-Law, approve the naming of streets in subdivisions.
- Permit a reasonable variance, subject to possible terms and conditions from the requirements of the Subdivision By-Law on obtaining the opinion of neighbours to proposed variances.
Upon completion of the Local Governance Reform, members of the Wards of Bayside and Chamcook will have an opportunity to sit on the Planning Advisory Committee. More information will come on the processes and how to apply.
Local Governance Reform Update on Proposed New Regional Service Commission Mandates, Services, and Next Steps
Who can I contact for more information on Local Governance Reform?
Residents of Bayside, Chamcook, and Saint Andrews can contact Town Hall for the Town of Saint Andrews at 506 529-5120 or by email to speak to:
What is the name of the new Entity?
All 78 of the new municipalities will be created by regulation and therefore must specify a name. As was the case with municipal type, the Transition Committee has chosen to maintain the name "Town of Saint Andrews".
Transition Facilitator and Implementation
Transition Facilitator: Don Fitzgerald
Restructuring at the local and regional levels will be led and supported by the provincial government. The implementation of local and regional structural reform will be divided into "restructuring projects" that will be assigned to various appointed Transition Facilitators.
There are two categories of restructuring projects that can be assigned to Transition Facilitators:
- Local Governments
- Regional Service Commissions (RSC)
The transition of remaining local service districts to new rural districts will be the responsibility of the Department of Environment and Local Government.
The Transition Facilitator's primary purpose is to work alongside new local governments and RSCs in their transition phase. TO achieve this, they will need to inspire and motivate change, as well as lead tactical initiatives such as:
- Familiarizing their teams and others with new enabling legislation and regulations.
- Developing options and best practices for new Councils and setting boundaries, including wards.
- Presenting options and best practices to support the establishment of different tax rates in local governments.
- Helping local governments prepare for municipal elections.
- Lead the staffing of local government and RSCs executive positions.
- Prepare preliminary budgets.
Generally, Transition Facilitators will specialize in either local government or RSC initiatives, to leverage expertise and create synergy between projects in different regions of the province.
At the regional level, Transition Facilitators will support RSCs as they coordinate linkages between the Regional Service Commissions, provincial government departments, and regional stakeholders in areas pertaining to the expanded mandate of the commission.
In all restructuring projects, it will be vital to build upon successful existing programs and assets in each local government and region.
After municipal type and community names have been selected, the work will begin on the 2023 budget for the new entity. This year's process will be new to all as we consolidate the Town and LSD budgets. Planning by the Province and Town has been underway for some time.
Facilitators for the regions will be introduced to the new process on April 8, and then on May 2 and 3 there will be in-depth sessions delivered to the facilitators. After that, work on the local budget will begin in earnest.
The new municipality will be broken down into budgeting sub-units based on the services received. These sub-units will be a tool that enables the use of multiple tax rates in a single entity. Our Transition Committee looks forward to this process and the budget will help answer the question, "What will this do to my taxes?"