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I'll call the September 8, 2026 meeting of the Planning Advisory Committee to order. I'd like to acknowledge that our gathering today is taking place in McMuggie, the traditional, unseated and ancestral territory of the McMugg people. I would also like to acknowledge that Nova Scotia has another unique people. The people of African descent, whose legacy and contribution stayed back

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In fact, over 400 years, predating confederation of this land, we are all treaty people.

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First item on the agenda is the approval of the agenda.

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This was circulated prior to today's meeting.

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Are there any additions that we'd like to place before the committee?

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Somebody move the acceptance of the agenda as presented?

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move

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to accept the agenda as presented.

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Seconder,

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Councillor Chambers, seconder.

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It's been moved and seconded that we approve the agenda is circulated.

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I'll move the favor.

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I can apply by saying aye.

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Aye.

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Contrary.

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The agenda is approved and is circulated.

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Next item is the acceptance of the minutes of our June 1st, 2026 meeting.

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these minutes were circulated prior to the day's meeting? Are there any errors or omissions?

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You

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have some phone callers or light just so on. He just turned it off. You're good?

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Yeah, that's fine.

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Councilor McMahon.

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Okay, there being no errors or omissions, I'll declare the minutes approved

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as circulated. Item number three on the agenda relates to 29

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May I join Patterson Street, Ms. Weiner?

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Thank you.

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So the purpose of today's meeting for 29 Patterson Street is for the committee to hear the staff report,

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hear from the owner and complainants, and make a recommendation if they so choose.

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Alternatively, the committee may defer a recommendation to a subsequent meeting.

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So this property is a vacant single-family detached dwelling with a residential zoning that recently changed ownership in August.

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It was last occupied in 2017 and has remained vacant since.

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The property was purchased at tax sale in 2019, sold again in 2023, sold again with the current owner taking possession just this August.

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An interior inspection did occur back on November 6, 2024, showing several deficiencies with the building,

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including the instructional integrity of the building was compromised, where a portion of the floor joists of the main floor had begun to collapse.

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The current owner took possession in August, as mentioned, and intends to demolish both the building and the accessory building.

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A follow-up inspection on August 31st confirmed that some exterior work had commenced, including disconnection of the power and removal of some siding from two of the sides of the main building.

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The owner had advised that the interior will be gutted by the end of October with demolition to follow.

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While a demolition permit application has not been received yet, the owner is aware of the requirement and has indicated that an application will be submitted.

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Given the extent of the deterioration, structural concerns and the overall condition of the premises staff are in the opinion that the building is dangerous and would require substantial repairs to be habitable.

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The owner agrees that demolition is required and has begun taking those steps to complete the process.

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Historically, recommendations for the orders for demolition have provided no more than a 90-day timeline from the date of the meeting in which the order was issued, providing there is no imminent danger precedent.

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Following consultation with the property owner's staff are recommending a 100, 180-day deadline for completion of the demolition, as the owner intends to undertake the demolition using non-mechanical methods.

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The owner has also indicated that 180 days provides a reasonable time frame to complete

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this necessary work.

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Just two pictures I'd like to have the community take a closer look at are on page 28.

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This is just when we did the inspection, we were only able to walk on the exterior of the

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building due to the interior floor collapse as you can see in this picture.

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This might be the one of the best pictures that you can see in this collapse, where the

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if door frames are not connected to the floor anymore and also on page 34 has a closer

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up view of this as well. Again, just the door frames no longer connected and the joys

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below have collapsed.

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So there will be three options for the planning advisory committee

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to consider today.

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Option one, I'll wait for it to be on the screen there.

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Option one is that the Planning Advisor Committee ordered the demolition of the building and accessory building and any holes backfilled, located at 29 Patterson Street, PID 25025909 within 180 days of the date of this meeting with all work to be completed by the property owner.

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Failure by the property owner to complete their acquired work may result in the town of Amers undertaking the demolition and disposal of contents to appropriate solid waste facility or impound yard with all costs incurred to be charged the property owner's tax account.

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Option two is that the planning advisor committee directs staff to retain a qualified third party contractor or professional engineer to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the building's condition.

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This will include detailed recommendations and cost estimates required to ensure the structure can be properly secured and safe to be accessed by first responders and further that the findings of this assessment be reported back to the PAC with all associated costs to be charged to the property owner's tax account.

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And finally, that the option three is that the Planning Advisory Committee direct staff to continue monitoring, monitoring the subject property and to report back to the committee on any new emerging, any new or emerging issues as they arise.

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Thank you. Is there any questions from Ms. Wainwright at this point?

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Thank you. Is the owner or representative of the owner present and if so, and I'd like to speak with you to come to the podium, please identify yourself please.

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So

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my name is Cindy McLeod, I've had the property for a little less than six weeks, so I'm getting up to speed.

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I understand the property needs to be, the house needs to be demolished and the building as well, and then the property backfilled.

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I'm just asking for some time, we've already started undertaking my brothers and Ontario right now or we would be further along.

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I did apply for the demolition permit today, I just haven't had a chance to get here.

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So, it's in process. I'm just asking for this was a surprise. I received this notice the day I signed for the property.

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I was not made aware before I put a bit on the property that it was, I knew it was going to need to be torn down.

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Didn't understand that it was at this stage. So, I'm just asking for some time. I agree the house needs to come down.

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It's an eye sore, it's dangerous, and I'd like to, the time to be able to proceed.

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The report recommended 180 days is set within your timeframe.

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I believe so.

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I believe so.

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Yes.

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We do have, it's the two of us and we've torn down more than one structure in our lifetime.

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The house isn't terribly huge.

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We just, we'd like to salvage some of the material and prevent it from going into solid waste if it doesn't have to.

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And, you know, make sure that things are appropriately sorted, so the metal goes to metal, and things like that, I think doing it manually as well will have less of an impact on the neighbors will be a little bit quieter, a lot less messy.

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And then, just would really like the chance to do it properly.

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Are there any questions that we spoke about?

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Thank you very much.

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Thank you.

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Oh, sorry.

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Oh.

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Okay.

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So appreciate that this is something you're tackling yourself and you've done this before.

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Yeah.

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As you mentioned.

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And so I hope it will be done safely.

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I'm sure it will.

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So, but my question is, Gus, more to that, you plan to strip some of the materials and reuse them or divert them.

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That's really great.

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But I guess my question is, as you get closer to having an open structure, what's your sort of safety plan to keep that?

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At some point that structure becomes, when the walls and doors are removed, it's easy for

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for animals and people and kids to get in there.

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What's your plan?

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I live at 39.

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Okay.

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I'm putting cameras up.

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I also own 31.

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My brother's gonna live there eventually.

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So I own 31 as well, which is right in front of it.

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Cameras are going up on 31.

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I've already bought the fencing to put around 29.

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I'm right there.

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So you have a plan to put some fencing around it while you're

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great.

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That's great.

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I have any other questions.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Thanks for the opportunity.

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Is the complainant or representative of the complainant here today and would they like

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to say anything?

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Okay.

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There's not.

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We've been presented with three options by Ms. Wainwright.

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Is someone prepared to make an option, a motion to accept one of those options, please?

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Councillor Ripley?

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put a motion forward that we go with option number one.

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It is a PZ.

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There's a seconder.

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Councillor Teppany Mayor Chambers.

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Seconder.

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Thank you.

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Any questions with respect to the motion?

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For the question, all those in favour of accepting the motion, which states acceptance of

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option number one, signify by saying aye.

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Thank you.

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Next item on the agenda relates to 51 York Street in this winery.

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Thank you again.

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Similar to the first item, we just discussed for 51 York Street, so the committee today

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will hear the staff report here from the owner and complainant of present and make a recommendation

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if they wish. Otherwise, the committee can defer their recommendation to a subsequent meeting.

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A complaint was received in March of 2026 regarding garbage throughout the property and food being disposed of at a second story window.

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The initial inspection found extensive deterioration to the building in general, including a collapse rear basement wall.

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The building official was then requested the same day to ensure immediate safety for anyone entering the building or the property.

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It was determined at that time that a request for an interior inspection was necessary.

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That interior inspection was conduct on April 14, along with Amherst Police Department myself and the owner and an occupant, and due to the conditions of the building in order to vacate was issued on April 16, once alternative housing options were provided to the owner.

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The owner was also given until May 31st to meet with the building official and myself to discuss their intentions with the building, which the owner did not proceed with at the time.

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Several deficiencies were noted during the inspection, including a collapsed portion of the rear basement wall, significant water damage the road, deteriorated and broken windows, inadequate means of egress and accessible bathroom and a lack of operational smoke detectors.

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A substantial accumulation of materials and belongings further restricts movement and access to essential facilities.

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A heating appliance and evidence of cooking in a confined bedroom and add further fire and life safety risks.

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It is in the staff's opinion that the building is severely deteriorated, sorry.

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Unsafe and presents a significant risk to the health and safety of any person entering or occupying it.

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Given these conditions, staff are in the opinion that the building is dangerous, and when we require an unforeverable number of repairs to make habitable.

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The pictures I'd like to focus on are on page 52 and 56, I guess we'll go to 52 first.

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So this would be the collapsing rear basement wall from the exterior.

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So this was originally found on the initial inspection when we received the original complaint for garbage.

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And from the inside, from April 14th, page 56, I know they're not great pictures to see,

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but that's the collapse from the inside of the building there.

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Again, that's the exterior rear wall.

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The three options that are presented at the PAC today is that one,

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the Planning and Advisory Committee order the demolition of the building located at 51 York Street.

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Fifth, zero, zero, three, zero, nine, six, within 60 days of the date of this meeting with all work to be completed by the property owner. Failure by the property owner to complete the required work will result in the town of Amherst undertaking the demolition and disposal of contents to appropriate solid waste facility or impound year with all costs incurred to be charged the property owner's tax account. Option two is that the planning advisory committee direct staff to retain a qualified third party contractor or professional engineer to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the building's condition.

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This will include detailed recommendations and cost estimates required to ensure the

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structure can be properly secured and safe to be accessed by first responders.

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And further that these findings of the assessment be reported back to the PAC with all associated

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costs to be charged to the property under a tax account.

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And option three is that the Planning Advisory Committee direct staff to continue monitoring

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the subject property and report back to the committee on any new or emerging issues as they

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arise.

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And at this time, staff will be recommending option ones.

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Thank you.

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Are there any questions of Ms. Wainwright?

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Is the owner or representative of the owner present?

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Would you care to speak, sir?

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If you go to the poll, would you, if you would like to speak, sir?

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Okay, fine, thank you.

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Is the complainant or representative of the complainant present?

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Would

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someone like to make a motion with respect to one of the options that we're presented

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here today?

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Yeah.

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I just had a question of a, so an order to vacate was issued and it says, kind of, progress

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was made.

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I'm just wondering if, kind of, we've exhausted all options here before demolition.

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So the progress was in regards to a garbage order on the exterior of the property.

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So we issued a garbage order on April 9th the day after the initial site visit due to

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the accumulation of garbage and other contents on the exterior of the property.

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The owner did work away over the months to clean that up.

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We ultimately couldn't wait any longer and we did do.

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We finished the cleanup on July 29th after we hadn't received any more communication from

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the owner.

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So the progress wasn't necessarily on the structure, it was on the exterior contents.

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There's a few orders that were issued on the property.

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So you have to follow up?

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Yeah, I guess it was it clear at that time that it was a, you know, there were structural

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problems and whatnot.

190
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Yes, yeah.

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When did the initial site visit on April 8th?

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That's when I first saw the exterior collapse in the building and that's the day we, so

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So the following day on the 9th, we issued the notice to enter and issued the garbage order for the exterior contents, and we also had the building inspector on site the day of the initial site visit as well, which was April 8th.

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Okay.

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Any further questions?

196
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Okay.

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Absolutely.

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And you said there's been no talks about the owner doing any work to the building at all.

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Not yet, I think I've never been given a definitive answer either way, but I think they

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realize the extent of the deficiencies, and it's a huge undertaking, of course.

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And just to put that, we also issued an order to meet with us by May 31st, as I mentioned,

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and we haven't done that.

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And I mean, if they would have came to us a little bit after we don't have that hard set

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for 31st, but it was also if you don't meet with us by May 31st, it will be going to

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PAC for demolition. So this was the closest PAC meeting since then, because it would

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have missed the June cutoff.

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Okay, so Chambers,

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there's no one in their tallies or nobody's squatting in there.

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The order of AK was issued and we don't have any other methods of assuming there was anyone

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in there because there's no water consumption, we don't get a water consumption because there's

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no access to water facilities in the building, and as usually how we can tell if someone's in

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the building. But as of, I'm assuming the date of the order to vacate that it would

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have been vacated.

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Thank you. Any other questions? Someone's here to make a motion.

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Mr. Ripley?

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Make a motion to go out to number one.

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Here. They're seconded for that.

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Mr. Hammond.

219
00:20:31,250 --> 00:20:32,570
I second that motion.

220
00:20:32,570 --> 00:20:37,360
Any questions with respect to the motion?

221
00:20:40,820 --> 00:20:41,220
Is there a repeat?

222
00:20:44,110 --> 00:20:44,310
Okay.

223
00:20:45,310 --> 00:20:52,990
It's been moved and seconded that we accept option number one as presented by the staff.

224
00:20:53,810 --> 00:20:54,570
All those in favour?

225
00:20:55,030 --> 00:20:56,050
Signify by saying aye.

226
00:20:57,750 --> 00:20:58,090
Contrary.

227
00:21:00,220 --> 00:21:01,000
Motion accepted.

228
00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:02,020
Thank you.

229
00:21:04,340 --> 00:21:11,240
Next item on the agenda relates to a variance at $69 lower of a plan.

230
00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:13,060
Thank you, Mr. Chair,

231
00:21:22,110 --> 00:21:28,390
so it's standard practice when staff issue a variance that we report that variance to the playing advisory committee.

232
00:21:28,830 --> 00:21:37,630
This is really an information item for now, but the intent is to sort of review what was the variance that was issued.

233
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And sometimes it leads to identifying something, I needed amendment to the land use by law or something of that nature.

234
00:21:47,630 --> 00:21:55,430
In this case, in August 11th, we issued a staff issue to 7.5% variance to the minimum

235
00:21:55,430 --> 00:22:01,790
lot area requirements at $69.00 per plant street to permit the construction of a nine-unit

236
00:22:01,790 --> 00:22:02,950
apartment building.

237
00:22:04,390 --> 00:22:10,090
That, and I'll get into it, but that variance was appealed to Council and the hearing is scheduled

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00:22:10,090 --> 00:22:13,030
for Thursday, September 17th, 430.

239
00:22:13,030 --> 00:22:22,130
so following that council can at the hearing council will hear from staff and then from

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the appellant and the property owner and they can make any decision that the development

241
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officer could have made. So staff will come back with that and update the committee once

242
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that's over. But I'll just go into a little bit of detail what the details of what was applied

243
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slide four. Next slide please. So as I mentioned this is 69 over

244
00:22:50,120 --> 00:22:51,720
the planch and you can see

245
00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:56,400
it identified in red on the screen it's when you're coming into town off of lower

246
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the planch it's the first street on your right.

247
00:23:03,110 --> 00:23:04,910
Bear with me for one second.

248
00:23:07,030 --> 00:23:07,670
Oh, okay.

249
00:23:07,670 --> 00:23:17,630
So the proposal was for a nine unit apartment building that it met the parking and

250
00:23:17,630 --> 00:23:19,010
manatee space requirements.

251
00:23:21,150 --> 00:23:28,250
The minimum lot area required was 1350 square meters.

252
00:23:28,990 --> 00:23:36,130
The total lot area was 1250 leaving a shortfall of 100 square meters or about a thousand

253
00:23:36,130 --> 00:23:39,450
the square feet, representing a 7.5% variance.

254
00:23:40,830 --> 00:23:45,670
Next slide, I'll just to show you, this is the site plan.

255
00:23:45,910 --> 00:23:51,010
So hopefully you can tell the rectangle near slower in the plan street.

256
00:23:51,170 --> 00:23:51,910
That's the building.

257
00:23:52,690 --> 00:23:56,530
It has the entrances and stairwells are exterior.

258
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And you'll see that in the next diagram.

259
00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:05,850
It has a driveway entry way and exit on both sides of the building in 14 parking spaces at the rear.

260
00:24:05,850 --> 00:24:15,910
here. Next slide. So the elevation on the left side would be the, those are the entrances

261
00:24:16,570 --> 00:24:22,970
to the units. The west elevation on the right, that would be looking at the rear of the

262
00:24:22,970 --> 00:24:28,370
building. Next slide. This would be looking from low-plant

263
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street on the left elevation and the east elevation on the right would be your view from

264
00:24:35,630 --> 00:24:39,090
lower the plant tree, big slide.

265
00:24:39,970 --> 00:24:45,310
So as I mentioned, the variance process, the Municipal Government Act, where it's provided

266
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for in the land use by law, allows the development officer to grant a variance for specific things.

267
00:24:52,810 --> 00:24:59,570
Those include the lot area, the frontage, the minimum yard setback requirements, the number

268
00:24:59,570 --> 00:25:03,110
of parking spaces required, building height, et cetera.

269
00:25:03,110 --> 00:25:08,270
Those are provided for in our land use by-law under section 3.12.

270
00:25:09,470 --> 00:25:16,790
So under the Municipal Government Act deals with variances in section 235 and it sets the

271
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test for variance and it states it may not be granted, it may not be granted if it violates

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the intent to the land use by-law.

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00:25:25,910 --> 00:25:31,390
The difficulty experience is general to the properties in the area or the difficulty is experienced

274
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experience is the result of an intentional disregard for the landing spot.

275
00:25:36,810 --> 00:25:43,730
So that's a pretty high bar, I think most development officers would tell you that that excludes

276
00:25:43,730 --> 00:25:50,590
any type of variance if you were to really apply the letter of those of that test.

277
00:25:50,590 --> 00:26:01,270
I guess we thought that a seven and a half percent variance to allow three additional units.

278
00:26:01,530 --> 00:26:06,270
To allow a nine unit apartment building here was reasonable.

279
00:26:07,810 --> 00:26:16,070
But frankly, if it was appeal, it was something that Council could look at and set the expectation

280
00:26:16,070 --> 00:26:45,290
of what what council feels isn't an appropriate variance or not so in this case the process is that if if the development officer determines that a variance is warranted or or is approved a notices sent to property owners within 30 meters and provide and that provides 14 days to appeal that decision to council council here's the appeal and they will in the 17th and can make any decision that the development officer

281
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can make which is approve or deny it.

282
00:26:50,250 --> 00:26:55,650
After the appeal hearing on September the 17th at Council,

283
00:26:56,010 --> 00:26:58,230
likely a Council's regular meeting in September,

284
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a decision would be made on the appeal.

285
00:27:02,230 --> 00:27:05,910
So that is where that stands right now.

286
00:27:06,710 --> 00:27:09,670
Happy to answer any questions, but like I said,

287
00:27:09,790 --> 00:27:11,430
there's not really a decision to be made here.

288
00:27:12,050 --> 00:27:22,610
And I think once council makes their determination of appeal, we can have another committee can have another discussion about both the rules and the variants.

289
00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:25,440
Questions?

290
00:27:26,380 --> 00:27:26,820
Madam?

291
00:27:35,780 --> 00:27:50,220
Yeah, I just had a question about what it is that was violated here, is it the size of the building on the lot or the amount of total lot space required for all the parking spots, et cetera, to actually fit on the lot?

292
00:27:50,220 --> 00:27:51,140
Thank you.

293
00:27:51,140 --> 00:27:52,020
That's a good question.

294
00:27:52,300 --> 00:27:59,160
So the way we regulate density, if you will, in a lot is we require a certain, a minimum

295
00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:02,480
lot area for every unit, dwelling unit that's proposed.

296
00:28:03,220 --> 00:28:10,940
So in this case, and the rule is for, in the general residential zone, the first six units,

297
00:28:12,180 --> 00:28:14,820
it's basically 200 square meters per unit.

298
00:28:14,820 --> 00:28:22,580
So six gets you to 1,200 square meters, then every unit above six, it's 50 square meters per unit.

299
00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:25,560
So, you can do the math on that.

300
00:28:26,380 --> 00:28:32,500
He was, that basically says, this is the minimum lottery that will allow for this number of units.

301
00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:36,480
And he, and they were short, so we issued that variance.

302
00:28:36,860 --> 00:28:40,060
And it, it seemed to be because it was the actual rectangular shape.

303
00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:44,240
It wasn't the full, like, there's another patch of grass next to it

304
00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:45,400
that was not part of that.

305
00:28:46,540 --> 00:28:51,580
Sorry, the plan just looked like a pretty small building on a pretty big lot, so I just

306
00:28:51,580 --> 00:28:53,140
wondered what, yeah.

307
00:28:53,820 --> 00:28:57,120
So yeah, to the north of that is not part of that property.

308
00:28:57,240 --> 00:28:57,440
Correct.

309
00:28:58,260 --> 00:28:59,020
And I first looked at that.

310
00:28:59,140 --> 00:29:00,820
It seemed like a really big piece of property.

311
00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:01,140
Right.

312
00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:05,840
No, it's just everything within the bar, the rectangle, if you will.

313
00:29:07,180 --> 00:29:13,420
It doesn't really have a, it really, the minimum lot area requirement, it really is kind

314
00:29:13,420 --> 00:29:16,320
of a density control.

315
00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:20,440
That's the, that's its function really.

316
00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:26,480
Didn't look very dense. Once you had the parking in, yeah.

317
00:29:30,730 --> 00:29:31,730
Any other questions?

318
00:29:39,430 --> 00:29:48,510
If this is approved, will the town do something about the entrance going into there?

319
00:29:48,510 --> 00:29:52,870
because right now you have your

320
00:29:55,270 --> 00:29:58,530
turning into that street and at the same time

321
00:29:58,530 --> 00:29:59,110
and people are...

322
00:30:00,500 --> 00:30:04,020
In to the lane to go either left or right.

323
00:30:06,420 --> 00:30:07,180
Mr.

324
00:30:10,070 --> 00:30:21,310
Chair, if I may. So there's no plan to alter that intersection, particularly because of this development. No.

325
00:30:23,910 --> 00:30:33,410
I think just hearing from some of the neighbors there, there are concerns are the entrance to that street.

326
00:30:33,410 --> 00:30:39,150
and the two signs that the big billboard signs they have,

327
00:30:39,830 --> 00:30:43,350
but I'll leave that up to the presenters,

328
00:30:43,710 --> 00:30:46,890
but I was just curious more or less on the street entrance

329
00:30:46,890 --> 00:30:49,250
because if you leave Frenchies,

330
00:30:53,270 --> 00:30:54,250
your turn,

331
00:30:54,510 --> 00:30:56,570
you have to go left to get in the lane

332
00:30:56,570 --> 00:30:59,890
if you went into Rob's park or went up the plant street.

333
00:31:01,070 --> 00:31:03,770
And at the same time, if you're coming down that street,

334
00:31:03,770 --> 00:31:15,240
your office will turn when that street. It looks like a failure or more there's not a

335
00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:21,120
whole lot of traffic on that street but if you add the extra people going in that street,

336
00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:31,940
it's certainly worth looking at to, yeah, I guess I would, and that's something council can look at.

337
00:31:31,940 --> 00:31:39,720
I guess I would suggest that if that is an issue, that issue exists whether or not this development takes place.

338
00:31:40,560 --> 00:31:45,580
I don't think they have, they're not opposed to the billing.

339
00:31:46,100 --> 00:31:57,820
They just have concerns that the two big signs you can't see by the grant, by that gas station, the two big signs.

340
00:31:57,820 --> 00:32:13,220
You can't see excellent in that street because of those two signs, and then plus with the entrance into that street, one is you're going to be turning it in at the same time and people on the other end are going to be trying to cut over.

341
00:32:14,020 --> 00:32:15,620
But it's something to look at anyway.

342
00:32:16,260 --> 00:32:18,560
We'll leave that up to the presenters for next week.

343
00:32:19,580 --> 00:32:24,120
Just figured that didn't know if our committee would pre-look at that.

344
00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:26,060
Thank you. Any other questions?

345
00:32:30,250 --> 00:32:30,430
Please.

346
00:32:31,750 --> 00:32:35,090
Andrew, was there any...

347
00:32:35,090 --> 00:32:36,170
This wasn't...

348
00:32:36,170 --> 00:32:37,910
We do this, and then it was denied.

349
00:32:39,650 --> 00:32:41,090
I'm trying to do math in my head.

350
00:32:41,290 --> 00:32:43,850
If he was only put two units on the third floor,

351
00:32:44,070 --> 00:32:46,290
would that work out?

352
00:32:47,430 --> 00:32:49,290
Because I know he just kind of boxes them on, right?

353
00:32:49,550 --> 00:32:50,570
That's kind of where my head was.

354
00:32:50,830 --> 00:32:53,090
The math in my head is seeming like it's going to be really close

355
00:32:53,090 --> 00:32:54,030
if he was to do two.

356
00:32:55,230 --> 00:33:10,010
Good question he could do six on that site by right yeah but if you put two two more on top on one side he said at the top three he'd be I wrote it down still over about 50

357
00:33:10,970 --> 00:33:14,210
Slightly over yeah you already did the math

358
00:33:17,700 --> 00:33:19,480
any other comments questions

359
00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:22,990
Thank you, Mr. Fisher.

360
00:33:23,310 --> 00:33:23,430
Thank you.

361
00:33:27,890 --> 00:33:30,870
Next item on the agenda, number six.

362
00:33:32,670 --> 00:33:33,390
Gentlemen, please.

363
00:33:33,890 --> 00:33:34,150
Gentlemen.

364
00:33:35,030 --> 00:33:35,670
Please, thank you.

365
00:33:36,730 --> 00:33:40,650
Related to municipal planning strategy and land use by law amendments.

366
00:33:41,190 --> 00:33:41,670
Mr. Fisher.

367
00:33:50,260 --> 00:33:51,020
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

368
00:33:51,640 --> 00:34:00,880
So the report is really in my, it was in your package, but recently council gave direction to staff

369
00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:23,120
to prepare a report for this meeting of the PAC to define wet sites and where and what is permitted and further define where overnight shelters are permitted in town and hold a public participation opportunity and then make a recommendation to council.

370
00:34:23,120 --> 00:34:33,080
So, in terms of definitions, in the context of addictions, a wet site is commonly known

371
00:34:33,080 --> 00:34:34,800
as a wet house or wet shelter.

372
00:34:35,760 --> 00:34:41,740
It's a residential facility for individuals with chronic substance use disorder, typically

373
00:34:41,740 --> 00:34:48,080
or historically an alcohol use disorder, where residents are permitted to consume alcohol

374
00:34:48,080 --> 00:34:49,380
on the premises.

375
00:34:50,200 --> 00:34:57,060
Given that alcohol is legal, an alcoholic wet site is not specifically regulated by senior

376
00:34:57,060 --> 00:34:57,920
levels of government.

377
00:35:00,430 --> 00:35:06,530
A supervised consumption site often called a safe injection site or an overdose prevention

378
00:35:06,530 --> 00:35:10,530
site involves the consumption of illicit controlled substances.

379
00:35:12,190 --> 00:35:18,970
Approval for these sites require an exemption under section 56.1 of the Federal Control Drugs

380
00:35:18,970 --> 00:35:25,010
and Substances Act, currently there's two of those such facilities operating in Nova Scotia,

381
00:35:25,130 --> 00:35:27,310
one at Halifax, the other in Sydney.

382
00:35:29,630 --> 00:35:35,530
It does not, the exemption does not legalize elicit drug use but provide specific legal

383
00:35:35,530 --> 00:35:40,470
protections for the activities covered under the exemption at the authorized site.

384
00:35:41,070 --> 00:35:47,890
In practical terms, individuals can bring their own narcotics to a supervised consumption facility

385
00:35:47,890 --> 00:35:53,010
with trained staff that can prevent overdoses and provide other supports to those individuals.

386
00:35:54,310 --> 00:35:58,830
Overnight or emergency shelters provide temporary overnight accommodations and

387
00:35:58,830 --> 00:36:04,750
other basic needs, such as food, showers, and other supports for those experiencing homelessness.

388
00:36:06,770 --> 00:36:12,110
So those are sort of the definitions that staff have come up with so far.

389
00:36:12,110 --> 00:36:12,110
are.

390
00:36:14,370 --> 00:36:22,530
Under the current planning documents, all those definitions are not included in those

391
00:36:22,530 --> 00:36:28,390
planning documents. We don't define them. And particular, you know, depending on the

392
00:36:28,390 --> 00:36:34,510
particular, particulars of a specific proposal, shelters are permitted in the downtown commercial

393
00:36:34,510 --> 00:36:38,670
commercial zone, the highway commercial zone, and institutional zones.

394
00:36:40,410 --> 00:36:58,210
Given that the controlled substances are illegal, staff of the opinion that a development permit could not be issued for a supervised consumption site unless they provided an exemption under that the Federal Control Drugs and Substances Act.

395
00:37:01,240 --> 00:37:10,560
So further to the direction of council, we have pushed out the PAC meeting that would

396
00:37:10,560 --> 00:37:15,480
have been scheduled for October 5th so that we can hold a public participation session

397
00:37:15,810 --> 00:37:16,860
at that time.

398
00:37:19,240 --> 00:37:29,920
So what the intention is to bring these definitions forward as draft definitions for

399
00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:32,520
or an eventual amendment to our planning documents,

400
00:37:33,420 --> 00:37:37,140
as well as a, you know, I guess a discussion

401
00:37:37,140 --> 00:37:42,020
or some context around where they might be regulated

402
00:37:42,020 --> 00:37:45,720
or located, but really it will be,

403
00:37:46,380 --> 00:37:48,480
I guess staff's intention is to sort of say,

404
00:37:49,220 --> 00:37:51,220
these are the definitions of these things,

405
00:37:51,620 --> 00:37:53,260
these are where they're permitted now,

406
00:37:53,860 --> 00:37:55,960
you know, what's the public input around,

407
00:37:56,180 --> 00:37:58,040
where they think they should be located

408
00:37:58,040 --> 00:38:07,000
are not located. An important point under the Municipal Government Act is that the municipalities

409
00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:14,440
have the authority to control where things are or control the conditions around them, but they're

410
00:38:14,440 --> 00:38:20,420
not allowed to just prohibit them at right. They need to be permitted somewhere within the municipality.

411
00:38:20,420 --> 00:38:26,940
So, that will be the challenge, but we want to hear from the public on it, and then

412
00:38:27,880 --> 00:38:35,340
develop a report to the PIC that would take place, I believe, is scheduled for October

413
00:38:35,860 --> 00:38:41,580
20th, and for a consideration of a recommendation to council.

414
00:38:42,860 --> 00:38:47,540
I guess I'll just stand up and was saying that it's important to note that this issue is

415
00:38:47,540 --> 00:38:52,740
about the planning documents, it's not about moving the existing shelter on Prince

416
00:38:52,740 --> 00:39:02,120
Arthur Street. That is a separate issue. As an existing use, which that shelter is,

417
00:39:02,320 --> 00:39:06,420
amendments to the planning documents do not impact the shelter's current operation.

418
00:39:07,060 --> 00:39:17,020
In other words, that location is grandfathered in. So with that, I'll open it up to her.

419
00:39:18,960 --> 00:39:19,640
I

420
00:39:28,890 --> 00:39:37,110
would just like to say that given the situation that had been identified within the community

421
00:39:37,110 --> 00:39:43,130
over the last number of weeks, some of the comments that have been brought forward

422
00:39:43,130 --> 00:39:48,930
to the Planning Advisory Committee with respect to development agreements that have been brought

423
00:39:48,930 --> 00:40:00,690
Before us, this is a very important issue, I think, that the town, town staff,

424
00:40:01,050 --> 00:40:08,410
town planning advisory committee and town council itself have to recognize and deal with.

425
00:40:08,610 --> 00:40:15,610
It's going to be a very intense discussion, I would expect.

426
00:40:15,610 --> 00:40:37,350
The fact that we have a public participation session coming up within the next month, I think it's incumbent for us as the members of the Planning Advisory Committee to certainly listen to the comments that are going to be brought forward.

427
00:40:38,310 --> 00:40:46,990
Any discussions that are going to result from that, again, I refer back to what Mr. Fisher

428
00:40:46,990 --> 00:40:52,770
was talking about with respect to the municipal planning strategy, the land use bylaw.

429
00:40:53,510 --> 00:41:00,590
That will be one of the main guiding points that we as a committee will have to follow.

430
00:41:02,070 --> 00:41:09,590
And I think that we have to be open-minded, but recognize also the importance and the

431
00:41:09,590 --> 00:41:17,350
significance of the issues that have been brought forward both to us, but also what we

432
00:41:17,350 --> 00:41:23,890
see out in the community, whether it's through social media or otherwise.

433
00:41:23,890 --> 00:41:31,550
So, again, I just think that it's very, very timely topic that we will be looking at.

434
00:41:32,330 --> 00:41:38,590
And I think it's fair to say that we look forward to working with staff listening to

435
00:41:38,590 --> 00:41:39,430
the recommendations.

436
00:41:41,370 --> 00:41:49,470
And also consider what the public is going to bring forward and up to over the fifth.

437
00:41:49,470 --> 00:41:53,590
Are there any other thoughts, some chambers,

438
00:41:54,030 --> 00:41:54,850
that familiar chambers?

439
00:41:55,210 --> 00:41:59,510
Just asking, when the bill is going,

440
00:41:59,770 --> 00:42:03,170
but gavels the stain, I love to ask that question.

441
00:42:07,360 --> 00:42:07,560
Fisher?

442
00:42:08,460 --> 00:42:14,340
You can ask the question, the intention

443
00:42:14,340 --> 00:42:19,500
for the new facilities to replace gavels,

444
00:42:19,500 --> 00:42:20,860
which is the nursing home,

445
00:42:20,860 --> 00:42:38,400
that facility will be vacated, I mean I've received no, I guess I can't, that's as far as I can go with, you know, in terms of what I've received no application for a repurposed of that site.

446
00:42:38,400 --> 00:42:38,500
Okay.

447
00:42:40,760 --> 00:42:40,980
Okay,

448
00:42:48,540 --> 00:42:49,040
I'm in.

449
00:42:49,940 --> 00:42:51,860
Yeah, just a question slash comment.

450
00:42:53,000 --> 00:42:55,720
I was talking to a friend that works in housing

451
00:42:55,720 --> 00:42:56,920
over each in Colchester County

452
00:42:56,920 --> 00:42:59,940
and just kind of going over how it works there.

453
00:43:00,220 --> 00:43:02,420
And I just wanted to be kind of briefed on this.

454
00:43:02,680 --> 00:43:06,120
And one thing that they brought up was damp sites,

455
00:43:06,120 --> 00:43:09,020
which is maybe the informal term that they use.

456
00:43:09,760 --> 00:43:12,160
Just wondering if we're defining these sorts of things,

457
00:43:12,160 --> 00:43:14,400
if something like that should be defined

458
00:43:14,400 --> 00:43:19,060
or if that's going to be, you know, suitably covered by the definitions that we use.

459
00:43:19,360 --> 00:43:24,540
Assuming that we're going to be kind of leaning on these definitions for developments in

460
00:43:24,540 --> 00:43:24,820
the future.

461
00:43:27,620 --> 00:43:28,980
It's a great question.

462
00:43:29,800 --> 00:43:35,800
I would say that we're going to, between now and the public participation opportunity,

463
00:43:36,320 --> 00:43:41,820
there's, we'll be doing more research on how, how, is, does, do these definitions cover

464
00:43:41,820 --> 00:43:48,440
all the various uses, because, you know, frankly, staff aren't playing staff aren't subject

465
00:43:48,440 --> 00:43:54,680
to experts on this, and there are a lot of, there are a lot of variations in treatment

466
00:43:54,680 --> 00:44:02,440
centers and what they're called, so we'll try to, from a definition perspective, be comprehensive

467
00:44:02,440 --> 00:44:09,820
in covering all of those sort of variations in those types of facilities.

468
00:44:13,220 --> 00:44:20,920
Thank you. In the other thoughts, questions, comments? Okay, thank you very much, Mr. Fisher.

469
00:44:21,560 --> 00:44:24,600
We look forward to the meeting on October the 5th.

470
00:44:30,760 --> 00:44:33,580
Okay, there being no other items on the

471
00:44:33,580 --> 00:44:37,160
agenda. Thank you. Chair in the meeting. Thank you very much.