June 2024 municipal update - Victoria-by-the-Sea
In this edition:
1 - From the Mayor’s Desk
2 - Victoria Official Plan and Development Bylaw Approved
3 - Rented Spaces in Victoria
4 - Dangerous, Hazardous and Unsightly Premises Bylaw
1 - From the Mayor’s Desk
From the Mayor’s Desk – June 2024
I hope this message finds everyone doing well and looking forward to the official start of summer and the upcoming Canada Day celebrations. Many thanks to the restaurant owners, the Victoria Business Association and the Victoria Volunteer Fire Department Association and the village volunteers for organizing events on Canada Day. Unfortunately, Leslie-Ann and I will be traveling this Canada Day and will not be able to attend.
As many of you know, the Municipality has received an application from Amar Seafoods to rezone the land across the road from their current property with plans to build another land-based fish grow facility. After submitting an initial application and going through a public meeting and a Planning Board meeting in early June where there was a lot of information provided and an opportunity to ask questions of the applicant, the company changed course due to the feedback they received and submitted an amended application that will result in another public meeting on June 24th. I hope residents get a chance to attend the session to learn about the application and to ask any question relative to these amendments. I also hope that residents take time to look at the process the Municipality is required to follow for applications such as this so they can see what is required under our bylaws and the provincial laws governing land use decisions such as this.
While I understand that residents will disagree on the way ahead, we shouldn’t become disagreeable and not respect each other’s views. We are a very small community and should be looking out for each other, not finding ways to create division.
Our community is a better place for all the volunteers who step forward to make our community a special place to live. For the volunteers currently serving on Council and Committees, please recognize them by giving them a pat on the back next time you see them.
Planning Board - Janet Lauzon, Susan Oxley, Ben Smith, Shelley Trainor, Jean McCardle
Water & Sewer Corporation Board - Hilary Price, Pat Smith, Linda Gilbert, Ben Smith
Council - Linda Gilbert, Ben Smith, Jean McCardle, Tom Wright, Eric Gilbert, Shelley Trainor, and Martin Ruben
The Council is looking at other ways we can show appreciation to the volunteers in our community. At the council meeting on June 10th, the council passed a bylaw relating to Dangerous, Hazardous and Unsightly properties. Based on advice from the provincial government, this will give the municipality authority to act with property owners to ensure we all live in a safe environment and that the council can make decisions when needed where certain situations arise. The bylaw doesn’t come into effect until 2025 and, in the meantime, our CAO will be providing information to residents about what the bylaw will mean for them. I urge residents to read the bylaw (what else would you want to do on a hot summer day?) and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Yves at the municipal office.
The facilities in the park on the causeway are no longer operational and our CAO has written to the provincial government for action to be taken as soon as possible to make the park and building safer. Last year, with the funding provided by some local businesses, the park remained open. At this time, we are still waiting to find out if the park can be operational this summer.
I also want to report that there has been some progress with the Municipality’s efforts to put in place an emergency measures plan that we can rely on for the coming fall weather. Last year, our CAO put
together an interim plan for some big storms that came our way, however, there was no time for the individuals who were responsible for taking action to practice their roles and ensure the residents could rely on the plan. Recently, Councillor Eric Gilbert was appointed as the chair of the EMS Planning Committee and, with the assistance of the provincial government, the Committee has a draft plan to review and move forward with. Our objective is to have a fully operational EMS plan in place for this fall.
Finally, I would like to welcome Mike Perry to the Municipal Office staff. Mike was recently hired as a seasonal employee to take care of the maintenance and repairs of Municipal properties. If you see him at work, please stop by and say hello.
I want to remind everyone that our municipal office and our website are excellent sources for information when you need services. Members of the municipal council and I are available by email and are listed on the website. Please let me know if you want to go for a coffee or a walk. I want to thank those residents who have reached out with their ideas and concerns that the council can use to understand how it can better serve the community.
2 - Victoria Official Plan and Development Bylaw Approved
On June 14th, the PEI Government officially approved the Official Plan and Development bylaw of the Victoria Municipality. This is the last step of a long process launched in 2019.
The Council and the Municipal Office now have the tools needed to better conduct amendment and development permit processes. These documents will also serve as a reference for the coming strategic plan project that will begin later this autumn.
Victoria citizens are advised that they can consult these two documents on the municipal website. Otherwise, they can communicate with Victoria’s Development Officer or the Municipal Office for further information.
3 - Rented Spaces in Victoria
Rented rooms or cottages or holiday packages are key to what is called the tourist experience. And every tourist destination is looking for a way to prolong that experience so that restaurants, boutiques and other businesses all take advantage of this longer stay. One of the best ways to do that is to offer quality and varied rented spaces for visitors.
There are currently seventeen spaces for rent within Victoria limits in seven different establishments. The prices for these spaces range from 140$ to 899$ per night. This official count is probably lower than reality as some rented spaces currently operating are not provincially licenced or did not obtain a municipal permit to operate.
Following the approval of its Official Plan and Development Bylaw, the Municipality encourages rented spaces operators to comply with the new regulations and with the PEI Tourism Industry Act and Regulations. This is important for security and marketing reasons.
Security because each provincially licensed establishment is annually inspected and regularly water tested. This process guarantees a level of security to the visitors and reduces the risk of a liability. Marketing because all licensed tourism establishments are marketed in powerful provincial tourism websites. This is key to a successful business and to a growing tourism market.
Operators can consult the municipal website to know more about the new rules that apply to that sector of activity or they can visit the Municipal Office to ask for advice.
4 - Dangerous, Hazardous and Unsightly Premises Bylaw
At the June 10th meeting, Council members adopted a new Dangerous, Hazardous and Unsightly Premises Bylaw. This comes after two public readings and a careful consideration of all the impacts of such a bylaw.
Essentially, this new bylaw targets buildings presenting a danger to the occupants or others and showing clear damage or deterioration. Most of the targeted properties depreciate the value of property in the vicinity.
The new bylaw contains a detailed process that gives the opportunity to the owners of such buildings to correct the situation before fines are applied. Furthermore, the bylaw will come into effect on January 1, 2025, which gives summer and full time residents ample time to correct any problem.
This bylaw is key for a standard of maintenance that will benefit all and that will upgrade the aesthetics of the Village.
Please note that the City of Charlottetown recently adopted a similar bylaw that will be enforced by its Health Office.
That’s all for this month! See past issues at www.RMVictoria.com/newsletters
Questions? Feedback? Info for a future newsletter? Photos you’re willing to share?
Contact staff at victoriamunicipalitypei@gmail.com
Office hours: Mon-Thurs, 9:30-12 & 1-3:30, except holidays and storm days.
Victoria Historic Schoolhouse, 730 Victoria Road, Victoria, PE, C0A 1J0, Canada