During tonight’s Regular Council Meeting I asked Town of Fort Erie staff to prepare a memo for the April 3rd 2023 Council-in-Committee Meeting with options on how to advance the Short Term Rental (STR) Land Use Study recommendations for Council’s consideration. This is an important matter to TOFE residents, businesses and visitors. We are approaching the beginning of the 2023 Summer tourism season and we need a plan.
Memorandum – Short-Term Rental Land Use Study Update and Options as presented in the Memo for TOFE Council on Monday April 3rd 2023. To read the memo click here
Earlier tonight Town of Fort Erie Council unanimously voted in support of the Staff Recommendation to deny the proposed amendment to the Town’s Zoning By-law No. 129-90 for Report No. PDS-25-2023 for lands known as 4409 Erie Road #CrystalBeach.
The Zoning By-law Amendment application proposed to demolish the existing one-story single detached dwelling, retain the existing two-story single detached dwelling, and rezone the subject property to a site-specific Residential Multiple 1 (RM1) Zone to facilitate the development of 8 new residential dwelling units.
Council denied the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment application for the following reasons:
– the proposal does not consider the character of the surrounding established residential neighbourhood;
– the subject property and waterfront properties along Lake Erie more generally were not identified for infilling and intensification;
– the proposal does not provide for appropriate open space on-site; and
– the property is not located within convenient walking distance from the elements of a traditional neighbourhood.
Lots of respectful discussion tonight regarding Short-Term Rentals (STR’s) at tonight’s Public Open House No. 2 led by Town of Fort Erie and consultant WSP Canada Inc.
The public was presented with several draft policy options being considered by council. For more information on the Open House and the Land Use Study overall visit: https://bit.ly/3NXtJHr
Previously the plan scheduled the new signs to be erected in spring of 2023. I am pleased to report that the work has started, and you will now start seeing them appear in the the CBBIA district. A special shout out goes to the Fort Erie Infrastructure Services Department for making this happen sooner!
The new signs will replace the former blue ones found throughout the rest of the village, bringing a fresh new update to the neighbourhood.