Changes will blend the former town’s zoning and other regulations with the South Central Carleton plan regulating former LSDs
Woodstock residents have 30 days, until Oct. 27, to study and respond to amendments introducing changes to a Woodstock Municipal Plan encompassing the entire expanded community.
The process began Tuesday, Sept. 26, when Dillon Consultant’s Stephen Stone delivered a public presentation to council.
Stone explained that the draft amendments presented resulted from a “high-level overview” which kicked off in March.
He said the process included extensive land-use assessments and a series of online and in-person engagement forums to ascertain the views of all Woodstock amendments.
Stone told council the legislative process requires a 30-day comment period and public forums before both the PAC and Woodstock council.
He explained the final draft of the amended plan would consider feedback from the 30-day public comment phase and input from the PAC.
Stone said stakeholders, which include key interest groups and business and property owners, have time to study the proposed amendments and raise concerns.
The public can find details about the draft Municipal Plan amendments on the Woodstock website Town of Woodstock – Home
In its notice, the town said that details on how to inspect plan amendments can be obtained by contacting Chief Operating Officer and Director of Planning and Development Andrew Garnett by emailing andrew.garnett@town.woodstock.nb.ca or calling 506-325-4600.
Mayor Trina Jones said the process gives residents time to ask questions and express concerns before Oct. 27.
Stone explained that the council will review the feedback at its Nov. 14 council meeting. It will then head back to PAC on Nov. 20,
He added the public can attend council and PAC meetings.
Stone said the process calls for council to review the draft amendments on Dec. 12 and approve the first and second readings.
He explained that the third and final reading will be held in January, and changes can be made until its final approval.
Stone said the entire process would allow the town to maintain land-use legislation for the whole community under a single document.
He said rural landowners will see little change to the regulation under the South Central Carleton Plan imposed by the Western Valley Regional Service Commission.
“Those development regulations are working,” Stone said.
Stone said he and others involved in drafting the amendments consulted closely with the RSC.
He explained the amended plans aimed at preserving farm and woodlot use. It also recognized the “strong rural culture” of Woodstock’s Wards 1, 2, 3, and 5.
Stone explained the plan recognized the need to increase opportunities for housing, business development and recreation.
