Members of city councilSA国际影视传媒檚 Governance and Priorities Committee on Oct. 25 discussed changes theySA国际影视传媒檇 like to see to the municipalitySA国际影视传媒檚 new zoning bylaw draft ahead of its first reading.

City staff presented a first draft of the bylaw in August and will hear feedback from residents prior to its second reading by council.

Coun. Shauna Morgan said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 heard from residents who are concerned the citySA国际影视传媒檚 plan to change density in transitional areas SA国际影视传媒� like areas close to downtown but outside the core SA国际影视传媒� will only serve to further SA国际影视传媒渉ollow outSA国际影视传媒� the downtown core.

She said she wondered whether the city had considered trying to limit concentration of new business or higher-density buildings in these transition zones.

The citySA国际影视传媒檚 director of planning and development, Charsley White, replied that the city didnSA国际影视传媒檛 need to further regulate density of new businesses or higher-density housing because the market would decide.

SA国际影视传媒淲hat I think will limit it is the current use and real estate values of those homes right now,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Morgan told the meeting thereSA国际影视传媒檚 been past confusion around variances and how and when they apply.

SA国际影视传媒淭here is among residents a severe distrust (of city hall),SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Morgan said she wants to see thresholds and limits on variances included in the bylaw to create greater transparency and try to rebuild the publicSA国际影视传媒檚 trust in city hall.

She wants to see limits placed on certain types of variances, such as building height or site density, she added.

Mayor Rebecca Alty said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 comfortable with what administration has brought forward, and said she believes the range of topography within city limits means more prescriptive language would SA国际影视传媒渉amstringSA国际影视传媒� the zoning bylaw permitting process.

She asked city staff whether character, design and appearance as used in the proposed draft, refers to the building itself or its use.

White said that question is an ongoing topic of discussion in the planning community, but said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 hesitant to create a standalone definition of these factors because the buildingSA国际影视传媒檚 location and neighbourhood would change how they are weighted and assessed.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to get away from the zoning of users,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

More information including the draft bylaw is available on the citySA国际影视传媒檚 website.