Two more businesses benefit from City grants

By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh

Two more Mount Pearl businesses have been approved for funding to modernize their buildings.

The money is coming courtesy of City grants to support local businesses.

Sleipnir Logistics will get $4,350 under the Energy Efficiency Program and NL Holdings will receive $8,600 under the Façade Improvement Program.

Sleipnir Logistics was established in 2005 and is located on 43 Sagona Avenue. The company - a provider of crane and rigging services and training programs for both offshore and land-based industries – will use the money as part of a $10,000 project to replace electric baseboard heaters with an energy-efficient heat pump.

“Heat pumps can typically reduce heating costs by 40 per cent to 50 per cent compared to conventional electric heating, helping to lower operating expenses while reducing energy consumption,” said councillor Bill Antle in presenting the item to council last week.

Sleipnir had applied for $5,000 and was recommended for $4,350 based on a project criteria score of 87.

The program is designed to provide support for commercial building and business owners to invest in projects and initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

NL Holdings, owner of the commercial property located at 1037 Topsail Road, applied for funding to upgrade the 24-year-old building that is currently vacant and being marketed for lease.

“To improve the property's appearance and attract future tenants, the applicant proposes installing new steel siding and aluminum composite panels on the building's façade. The proposed improvements will modernize the building's appearance, enhance its visibility along the Topsail Road commercial corridor, and contribute to the overall aesthetic quality of the area,” said Antle.

The total project cost is $72,300 and the recommended amount of $8,600 came after the project received a project criteria score of 86.

The facade improvement program provides grants equal to 50 per cent of total project costs up to a maximum of $10,000. Businesses must be registered in Mount Pearl with no debts to the City, must not have received a facade improvement grant in the last 10 years and the property must be adjacent to the street or sidewalk with orientation towards the street, among other criteria.

Bee hives application causes a buzz at council

By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh

A Mount Pearl resident was unsuccessful in a last-ditch plea to city council to keep two beehives he’s had since COVID.

The resident spoke to council at its October 13 regular meeting in support of his application for two beehives at 15 Kean Place, something that council has discretionary power over under the city’s development regulations.

“I first got into it about post-COVID, somewhere around 2021 and I’ve had two hives in my backyard pretty well since then,” he said. “I’ve had many of my neighbours come up and express their appreciation for it, for the pollination that they do. I’ve had children come over and I’ve shown them the bees and everything.”

He said that one of his hives did swarm this past summer, which resulted in a complaint. He said somebody found themselves surrounded by bees while walking down the road.

“And it is scary, I grant you that,” he said. “You’ll note, however, she was not actually stung. When bees swarm, they don’t actually have a hive to defend so they are not generally aggressive but they are scary.”

The resident explained to council that he captured the swarm and addressed the issue, adding that when a hive is preparing to swarm it prepares a queen cell by laying an egg that becomes the queen. When the queen leaves it takes some of the worker bees, which is what happened in the summer swarming incident.

“I went in and destroyed the rest of the queen cells so that didn’t continue happening for the rest of the summer.”

Councillor Isabelle Fry said she lives close by and when the swarm happened, she had three different people contact her, so she ventured out and saw the swarm on the tree on the front lawn of a neighbouring property and could see how it would be terrifying.

“We have to look out for the entire neighbourhood,” Fry said, adding she was sympathetic to the applicant and understands the important role bees play.

Deputy Mayor Jim Locke said the application triggered the usual public briefing session under development regulations and neighbours within a 150-metre radius were notified. The briefing session was held on September 24 and though three people registered, none of them attended.

There were two written submissions received – one in support of the application and one opposed. The expression of opposition centred around the appropriateness of hives in a residential area, and outlined a swarming incident from this past summer, something the applicant addressed during his presentation to council.

Councillors said there needs to be more education of the general public about bee behaviour, and one of the points of contention was related to the property’s ‘living’ vertical fence that includes flowers.

“The nature of this particular property is unique in that there’s open access and there’s a congregation of bees in the area,” said Locke. “Was this particular application in this particular neighbourhood, with the details around the vertical fence or the living fence, was it appropriate for this particular neighbourhood? After a discussion council decided that they didn’t deem this particular application suitable for this neighbourhood and as such the motion we bring forth now is to reject or deny this particular application.”

Council voted to reject the application.

Rice commends staff for maintaining City standards

By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh

Mount Pearl council has confirmed both a stop-work order and a property maintenance order issued by staff to different addresses on September 21.

Council delegated its authority some time ago to issue such orders but they still have to confirmed by council at a public meeting. Both orders were approved unanimously.

“I’m so happy that the City is moving forward on the said process because we are starting to get to a phase in the city where we are seeing a number of rundown properties,” said councillor Mark Rice. “I don’t know if it’s because they’ve turned into rental properties or what the cause is, but I just want to comment that the City has a standard to upkeep and I am glad to support staff on what they’re doing here in this area.”

Staff issued a stop work order on an unpermitted extension for a sunroom at an address on Tweedsmuir Place on September 21 after a follow up inspection September 18 found there had been further construction in violation of a stop-work notice issued August 24.

“A City inspector had written communications with the property owner following the stop work notice requesting drawings or framing plans for the support of the structure,” read a background note prepared by staff for council prior to the vote. “There appeared to be no floor joists in the sunroom.”

The order stipulates that the owner stop construction of the sunroom until all required permits are obtained and that failure to obtain the permits within 14 days of the order may result in the issuance of an order to remove the sunroom and restore the site to its original state.

Staff issued a property maintenance order for a property on Montgomery Street, following up an initial property maintenance notice issued August 12 stating that, among other things, the dwelling has excessive paint peeling. A follow up inspection was completed on August 21 that found no work had been completed and again on September 14, where scaffolding was noted but no painting had been started.

The maintenance order states the owners have 30 days to remove the peeling paint and repaint the exterior of the property, and that failure to comply will result in the City making necessary arrangements without further notice and all associated costs will be the responsibility of the property owner.

Mechano getting grant from City to help with upgrades

By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh

A company operating in Mount Pearl since 1990 has been approved for an $8,500 grant from the City to go towards a facelift for its building on Dundee Avenue.

Mechano Construction Ltd. is spending more than $150,000 on exterior upgrades to the building and applied for the grant through the City’s Facade Improvement Program.

“The project includes replacing damaged siding, installing 11 new garage doors, upgrading entry door security features, removing outdated signage, and implementing accessibility improvements throughout the site,” said councillor Bill Antle in presenting the item to council. “These improvements will substantially enhance the building's curb appeal and modernize its overall appearance,”

Council was told the property, which is owned by Mechano and home to three long-term commercial tenants, will see improved safety, accessibility, and aesthetics, further strengthening its presence within the community.

Mechano Construction a family-owned mechanical contractor that specializes in plumbing, HVAC, sheet metal fabrication, insulation, and mechanical services for new construction, renovations, and commercial fit-up projects throughout the province.

City staff gave the application a criteria score of 85 and recommended a funding amount of $8,500 of a possible $10,000.

“The Facade Improvement Program appropriately balances the short-term cost with anticipated long-term economic benefits,” Antle said. “Approval of this application supports council’s strategic priorities by encouraging investment and reinforcing the City’s role as an active partner in economic development.”

The program provides grants equivalent to 50 per cent of total project costs to a maximum of $10,000. Businesses must be registered in Mount Pearl with no debts to the City, must not have received a facade improvement grant in the last 10 years and the property must be adjacent to the street or sidewalk with orientation towards the street.

City buys church lands to protect Waterford River

By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh

Mount Pearl City Council has approved the purchase of a pair of parcels of land from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John’s in the hopes of using them as a buffer to protect the open space along the Waterford River.

The City had actually bid on three parcels that were associated with the court-monitored sale of a slew of church properties. Mount Pearl was the successful bidder on Parcel ‘C’ at a cost of $720 and Parcel ‘D’ at a cost of $3,784.

“These parcels of land are adjacent to the T’Railway and Waterford River and purchased to protect the open space along the river,” councillor Bill Antle said in presenting the item to council at its September 21 public meeting

Parcel C runs northeast from Pine Bud Crescent, while Parcel D is situated along Topsail Road.

In a separate agenda item, council approved the purchase of a 1.68 hectare parcel of open land on Commonwealth Avenue from the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) at the cost of $1.

The NLHC had conveyed lands to the City within the Admiralty Wood Phase 1 Subdivision Agreement, but a duly executed conveyance was not registered with the provincial registry at that time.

“This conveyance completes the intended transfer of this open space,” Antle told council.

Council also agreed to execute an access easement with Rogers Communications for a communications cabinet located on the land.

Mount Pearl approves parking relief for apartment developer

By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh

Mount Pearl City Council has approved an application by the developer at 50-60 Dunrobin Street to reduce the number of required parking spots prior to constructing the third and final building in the project.

The property owner has already constructed two buildings with 12 units each and now proposes to build a third structure with an additional 12 units for a total of 36 units. Under current City regulations, there must be 1.5 parking spaces to accommodate each unit for a total of 54 parking spaces. However, council can grant relief from the rule if the applicant can demonstrate that parking demand is expected to be less than the minimum requirement.

Councillors pointed out that requirements under its new municipal plan and development regulations, which could be finalized and approved as soon as January, would set the minimum requirement for this development at significantly less than 54 spaces.

“We’ve all seen the two buildings that are up there. They are very attractive buildings and a great addition to the neighbourhood,” said Deputy Mayor Jim Locke in presenting the motion to council to approve the parking relief, enter into a development agreement with the property owner, and issue a conditional development permit for the project. “The rationale to me is sound in that we are currently awaiting approval of our new municipal plan and once that municipal plan comes through these three apartment buildings would be approved and only require 40 parking units.”

The City of Mount Pearl’s revised 2026-2036 draft municipal plan and development regulations still need to be adopted by council and will be subject to a public hearing and the subject of a public commissioner’s report, prior to coming back to council for final approval and submitted to the Province for Ministerial registration.

Staff supported the parking relief request as the development is compatible with the City’s direction to reduce parking minimums, make more efficient use of land, and further support medium to high-density housing and a variety of housing types throughout Mount Pearl.

“Our (current) municipal plan, to be honest with you, some of our regulations are archaic and we are still waiting on the province for the past two years to approve our new municipal plan which I think will suit the purpose of modernizing the plan and bringing it up to current times,” said Mayor Dave Aker, adding the developer is merely putting forward what is currently being practiced in the real world. “And the city, the region, the province, the country continues to cry out for more housing, so I think this is a really good move.”

As a condition of the development, the property shall not be subdivided and shall remain as three buildings on one lot, and the property shall not be sold or subdivided without prior written approval from the City.