Town of Iqaluit wants your views on new zoning bylaw

MICHAELA RODRIGUE
Nunatsiaq News

IQALUIT — Iqaluit residents will get a chance to shape the future development of their community next week.

The Town of Iqaluit will unveil its preliminary vision of what Iqaluit should look like at a special council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 5.

The council meeting will be followed up by a series of public meetings where residents can voice their concerns and have their say on a new general plan and zoning bylaw.

The two documents form the blueprint of what types of development should and should not take place in Iqaluit over the coming years.

The general plan is not yet complete, but will outline avision for the entire town. It will also state what kind of building and development the Town of Iqaluit wants.

For example, it will identify the need for a new cemetery, green space, and new housing and commercial areas, said Matthew Hough, a project co-ordinator for the Town of Iqaluit.

The zoning bylaw specifies exactly what developers can and cannot build, where, and how. Questions such as what you can build, how large it can be, and how close to the lot line it can be will be answered within the zoning bylaw.

The draft bylaw also names possible sites for the next housing and commercial developments. But the chosen locations can change, depending upon public feedback, Hough said.

“We can get some input on where the next school may be, where the next cemetery will be,” Hough said. “What we really want is people to come and tell us… are those zones appropriate?” he said

After this round of public consultation, the zoning bylaw will be fine-tuned. A new version will then be sent back to the development, works and public safety committee for debate.

Further public debate can take place when the documents go to council for approval.

Residents can pick up copies of the documents in English or Inuktitut at the Town office.