The provincial government announced today the approval of amendments to the Planning Act Regulations which will strike a balance between urban and rural development, create more flexibility for rural tourism development, permit residential lots to be subdivided for the children of the owners and allow municipalities in the buffer areas with Official Plans to zone specific areas for residential development. At the same time the new regulations, which apply to the Special Planning Areas, commonly known as "buffer areas," which surround Charlottetown, Cornwall, Stratford and Summerside, will ensure that the objectives established for these Special Planning Areas will continue to be met.
"The proactive steps the government is announcing today will build healthier communities for tomorrow, while protecting the important rural way of life that makes PEI unique," says Community Services Minister Wes MacAleer. "The amendments to the current Planning Act Regulations will respond to the issues raised during the public consultations held in June and July and, at the same time, ensure that the effectiveness of the buffer areas is not compromised." The Minister emphasized that both of these changes reflect the special priorities the government places on responsible community development, family decision making and support for small businesses in the vital tourism sector. At the same time, it will ensure that urban development will be able to continue in the amalgamated municipalities in the Charlottetown and Summerside areas.
As part of the 1994 amalgamation package for the Charlottetown and Summerside areas, it was agreed that Special Planning Areas would be created to ensure urban development would continue in the cities and towns, with rural development continuing in surrounding areas. The buffer areas were established between July 1994 and February 1995 together with temporary regulations which ensured that residential development would not exceed traditional levels. This was intended to deal with the suburban/rural land-use conflicts which have emerged and give priority to retaining agricultural and forestry land for resource use. The temporary regulations creating Special Planning Areas expired today and have now been replaced by permanent regulations.
Under the amended regulations, the maximum lot size permitted when a lot is subdivided for rural tourism will increase from one acre to a maximum of three acres. Minister MacAleer noted, "This increase in lot size will enable the development of such rural tourism uses as rental cottages and campgrounds on a larger scale than was the case previously."
The Minister noted that municipalities and members of the public played vital roles in providing the government with input on its land development strategy in these areas. "In May of 1998, our department's representatives attended the annual meeting of the Federation of PEI Municipalities. The municipalities of Charlottetown, Summerside, Stratford and Cornwall all made statements supporting the retention of the buffer areas. In June the department met with all 20 of the affected municipal councils. Equally important, during July citizens participated in four public meetings and gave valuable advice."
Minister MacAleer emphasized that the government has listened to citizens' and councils' key concerns. "Landowners will now be able to subdivide lots for each of their children. In addition the new regulations will permit municipalities with Official Plans to zone for residential development as an alternative to the general regulations, which enable the subdivision of one residential lot per parcel, provided the total land zoned does not exceed the traditional rates of development."
"At the same time, we believe that we have struck a balance which will ensure that the cities and towns affected will be able to continue to develop at a healthy pace," the Minister said.
The amendments to the Planning Act Regulations are effective October 16, 1998.