St. John’s councillors have approved, in principle, new neighbourhood plans for the Cowan Heights and university areas of the city.
The final versions, completed by Alberta-based consultants O2 Planning and Design, were endorsed by council’s committee of the whole yesterday.
Amendments must now be made to the municipal plan and development regulations before both plans go before council for a final vote.
The consultants identified more than a dozen areas of focus in both neighbourhoods following exhaustive consultation with residents.
O2 Planning and Design’s Nicholas Kuhl said the value and uniqueness of an area like Rabbittown was not lost on them.
“That historic character is something that we wanted to ensure was preserved long term, and the commercial uses within it in particular – those little neighborhood corner stores that are sprinkled throughout the district, the restaurants – we wanted to ensure had the ability to continue to exist, and not just that but to thrive and potentially expand. So, respecting that historic character and form of development is something that’s reinforced in this plan.”
