Professional Property Managers in Quinte West, ON

Let's dive into some local news from Belleville that's all about shaking things up in the zoning world. The city's Planning Committee has just given the thumbs-up for a pretty big change—a new draft zoning by-law that's about to streamline how things are done.nnSo, here’s the scoop: Belleville's been juggling three separate zoning by-laws, which sounds about as efficient as trying to text with a flip phone in 2024. These by-laws are pretty dated, covering a whopping 31 residential zones, 21 commercial ones, and 16 for industrial spaces. The new plan? Squish all of that into five residential zones, six commercial zones, and five industrial zones. Sounds like a breath of fresh air, right?nnBut wait, there's more. The draft isn’t just about making things less complicated. It’s also throwing in some cool updates aimed at encouraging different housing options and getting people to move around more actively. Think bicycles, walking—anything that gets you out and enjoying the city.nnThe team behind this, including the Director of Engineering Stephen Ashton and Principal Planner Thomas Deming, has been busy tweaking this draft. They've made some changes like lifting size limits on things like RVs, trailers, and boats, and they're also adjusting the rules around how much space you need for a house and what you can do in your home business-wise.nnPaul Carr, the chair of the Planning Committee, is pretty stoked about the hard work the city staff has put into this. He’s all about Belleville being bold, innovative, and making it simpler for the city to grow and develop. This new by-law is meant to reflect a blend of Belleville's history with the needs of today, including easier-to-understand language, user-friendly guides, and a whole lot more flexibility for homes and businesses. Plus, it’s opening doors to things like having backyard hens or parking your RV without a hassle.nnCarr emphasized how this new approach is cutting through red tape, setting Belleville up for faster development and growth. And the best part? Once the council gives the green light, this new by-law kicks in right away.nnThe council's going to have the final say in a future meeting, but if all goes as planned, Belleville could be on the fast track to a more streamlined, growth-friendly future.