Saint John’s heritage bylaw is being reviewed as part of the new Central Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan.
City planner Jody Kliffer tells us they’re looking to make the heritage conservation area more friendly for developers.
Some materials can’t be used in the area, so they’re reviewing those to see if some modern materials could be considered.
“There’s also relaxing some of the standards for facades that don’t face the street,” says Kliffer, “so if something’s not visible in terms of facade, well maybe it doesn’t need to be held to the highest standard of heritage treatment.”
Kliffer says they’re also taking a more open look at infill development in the heritage conservation area.
“It doesn’t have to imitate heritage if you’re going to build in a heritage area,” he says. “It needs to be nice, it needs to look good, and it needs to be held to urban design standards that reflect that, but it doesn’t have to mimic heritage.”
According to Kliffer, the process is going along well and the heritage board is very supportive of it.
