First reading to amend municipal plan following amalgamation

Apr 22, 2024

Four months after the start of consultation procedures, Edmundston City Council has just given first reading to amendments to the municipal development plan, the zoning by-law, the building by-law, the subdivision by-law, and the by-law governing the planning advisory committee.

The proposed amendments are intended to standardize the application of these various land management tools following the amalgamation of January 2023, when the Village of Rivière-Verte and the LSDs of Saint-Jacques and Saint-Joseph joined the City of Edmundston. To inform the public about the process, consultation sessions have been held in these areas in recent weeks, and a survey was circulated in February.

A municipal development plan guides future growth and development efforts to ensure that the measures adopted are sustainable, orderly, complementary, and effective. The plan's objective is to improve the quality of life of the municipality's citizens. The new by-law will consolidate the Edmundston and Rivière-Verte municipal plans and revise and update the policy statements and proposals of the existing plan adopted in 2019. It will also be a first exercise in planning and applying development control measures for the LSDs of Saint-Jacques and Saint-Joseph.

“We understand that some people are apprehensive, especially in the LSDs where there is no development plan. But we want to reassure the public that the plan's objective is to improve the quality of life of citizens throughout the municipality. In fact, we have decided to postpone adoption of the plan by one month to continue to inform and consult the population,” explains Pascal Hudon, Director of Land Use Planning.

Revisions to the plan and by-laws to address certain issues have taken on a different scope since their original adoption, notably regarding climate change mitigation and adaptation measures, as well as affordable and rental housing.

Comments received by Council will be presented at the May 21 public meeting. Adoption of the amendments is scheduled for the June public meeting. See website for details.

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CONTACT: Mr. Pascal Hudon, Municipal Director of Land Planning, 506.739.2125, pascal.hudon@edmundston.ca