St. John's council approves 32 homes on Heavy Tree Road

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — At the regular Monday council meeting, council unanimously approved an application for 32 semi-detached homes at 47A Heavy Tree Rd. in the Diamond Marsh subdivision. 

It will require a rezoning from rural land to residential low density. 

The application had some area residents concerned about flooding and increased traffic, and a public hearing with a commissioner was held Oct. 23. 

“There is some worry,” ward councillor Wally Collins said prior to the vote. 

However, he said he’s sure city staff have appropriate measures in place and he doesn’t think the development is “going to be a big problem — I hope not, anyway.”

While council unanimously approved the application, two councillors, Deanne Stapleton and Ian Froude, were absent and so did not vote. 

In her report to council on the matter, commissioner Marie Ryan recommended the city develop “a robust policy framework” for situations in which there’s residential development in close proximity to existing agricultural operations or zones.

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