Development News, November 2020
November 20, 2020
My Miramichi Municipal Plan Bylaw 109
The new City of Miramichi Municipal Plan was adopted at a Special Meeting of Miramichi City Council on September 29, 2020.
The plan was the result of a detailed review by a council-appointed Plan Review Committee that included members of council, City staff and members of the business and professional community. The committee operated with the advisory input of the MRSC- Planning Services professionals. Numerous public information and consultation sessions were held over an 18-month period and the resulting Bylaw 109 will serve as Council’s comprehensive policy document for managing growth and development within the City over the next 10 years.
The focus of the Plan is to recognize and preserve the existing rural character of Miramichi by not only maintaining rural land use and development standards but also acknowledging the need for an overall development strategy.
Once approved by the Province of New Brunswick, the full copy of the My Miramichi: Planning Bylaw #109 as well as the My Miramichi Zoning Bylaw #110 will both be available for full review by developers, business owners and the general public on the City’s website.
“…living and doing business in the City will be a conscious and deliberate choice due to its social cohesion, desirability, and high-quality of life.”
Downtowns Master Plan
The City of Miramichi has consistently recognized the value of having two distinct and vibrant downtown districts.
The Newcastle Business District and the Historic Chatham Business District Business District both reflect the values of the community as well as the entrepreneurial spirit that is prevalent in our City. The City continues to invest in infrastructure within the Downtowns to assist business owners and operators in creating a pleasurable and unique experience for residents and visitors.
In keeping with this view, the City engaged the services of a consultant who specialized in Downtown Redevelopment Planning to create a comprehensive 25-year visionary plan for both downtown districts. This plan uses both public and private development concepts to outline the direction of the development within the districts. Utilizing an extensive public and business consultation process the plan maps out a comprehensive vision that includes commercial development, downtown residential development and urban design guidelines. Increasing the residential density and providing a friendly usable space that reflects the character and vibrancy of the downtowns are key components of this plan. An important element of this plan is the effect that climate change will have in the downtowns and how development will have to take place considering the significant changes that could occur in the next 25 years.
The plan is available for viewing here.
This Month’s Q&A on Economic Development
Q: Why is it important to respond to economic development related surveys & questionnaires?
A: From time to time the Department of Economic Development and Tourism requires information from Miramichi businesses for a variety of reasons. For example, with the onslaught of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Department sought information on operating hours, capacities and other information critical to the tourism season. This type of information, which included a personal outlook for how COVID-19 had affected the businesses in this sector, was essential to developing a new marketing program in a timely manner that would address the needs of potential visitors. While some of these surveys and questionnaires might seem mundane and time consuming, the information requested always has a purpose associated with it. While we will keep these types of questionnaires and surveys to a minimum, we would ask that you take the time necessary to complete them when required. As a Department, we work for you and with you. It is only by working together that we will succeed, and you are our best source of information concerning current market conditions, trends and needs.