Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador
· adopted 2025-04-01
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
Town of Rocky Harbour
MUNICIPAL PLAN 2024
photo credit: Town of Rocky Harbour web site
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
Niunicipal Plan Amendment
REGISTERED
Numb.- 42145 -- 0007-- 202.6
Datc
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)20.2 6
signature
Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour -
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
Contents
1.0 ADOPTION AND APPROVAL
4
1.1 COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO ADOPT; MCIP CERTIFICATE
4
1.2 PLANNER'S SEAL AND SIGNATURE
4
1.3 COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO APPROVE
6
2.0 INTRODUCTION
8
2.1 Title and Legal Status
8
2.2 Municipal Planning Area
8
2.3 Purpose of Municipal Plan 2024
9
2.4 Municipal Plan 2024 Administration; Role of Development Regulations 2024
9
2.5 Review and Amendment
9
3.0 PREPARATION AND APPROVAL
11
3.1 Preparation and Approval
11
3.2 Provincial Interests
12
4.0 KEY FACTORS AND APPROACHES AFFECTING DEVELOPMENT
15
4.1 Geographic Setting and Settlement
15
4.2 Demographics
17
4.3 Economic Conditions and Quality of Life
18
5.0 VISION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
21
5.1 The Concept of Visions, Goals, and Objectives
21
5.1.1 The Municipal Planning Vision of the Town of Rocky Harbour
21
5.1.2 Goals and Objectives
22
6.0 DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT AND POLICIES
28
6.1 Overall Development Concept Evolved from Former Municipal Plan
28
6.2 Policies Specific To Land Use Designations
31
6.2.1 Residential
32
6.2.2 Mixed Development
33
6.2.3 Tourism Commercial
36
6.2.4 Industrial/Commercial
38
6.2.5 Environmental Protection: A and B
40
6.2.6 Water Supply
41
6.2.7 Public Recreational and Cultural
42
6.2.8 Special Conservation
44
6.2.9 Rural
45
6.3 General Land Use Policies
47
6.3.1 Sustainability of Development
47
6.3.2 Affordability of Housing; Short Term Rentals
51
6.3.3 Natural Hazards to Building
52
6.3.4 Municipal Services and Public Utilities
53
6.3.5 Protection of the Natural Environment
54
6.3.6 Advertisements (Signage)
56
6.3.7 Agriculture and Keeping of Animals
57
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
6.3.8 Removal of Quarry Materials
59
6.3.9 Archaeological and Heritage Resources
59
6.3.10 Minerals, Mines and Petroleum Resources
60
6.3.11 Comprehensive Development
61
6.3.12 Flag Lots
61
6.3.13 Temporary Developments
61
6.3.14 Non-Conforming Uses
62
6.3.15 Cottage Planning and Development Areas (Crown Land)
63
6.4 Certain Matter Carried Forward--General Garage at 48 Main Street South
64
7.0 MUNICIPAL PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
66
7.1 Introduction
66
7.2 Development Regulations
66
7.3 Development Control
67
7.4 Public Works
69
7.5 Development Schemes
69
7.6 Municipal Code of Conduct in Matters of Municipal Planning
70
8.0 INTERPRETATION
71
8.1 Land Use, Boundaries, and Roads
71
8.2 Figures and Quantities Approximate
71
APPENDIX
72
SITE PLAN INFORMATION
72
Maps 1 and 2 are part of the Municipal Plan 2024.
Map 1 is bound as the last page in this volume. Map 2 is a large folded map in the map pocket.
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
1.0 ADOPTION AND APPROVAL
1.1 COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO ADOPT; MCIP CERTIFICATE.
Under the authority of Section 16 of the Urban and Rural Planning Act 2000, the Council of the
Town of Rocky Harbour adopts the Municipal Plan 2024.
Resolved by the Council of the Town of Rocky Harbour on the 1s` day of April, 2025.
Signed and sealed this
of (ePA-eVIAVer-
, 20 as
Mayor:
Clerk:
cbov\
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1.2 PLANNER'S SEAL AND SIGNATURE
CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF PLANNERS CERTIFICATION
Council Seal
I certify that the attached Municipal Plan 2024 document has been prepared in accordance with
the requirements of the Urban and Rural Planning Act, 2000.
Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners
Jens Jensen,
g.,MCIP
Date:
4R /
'9 6- 4
2025
seal
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
1.3 COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO APPROVE
Whereas the Council of the Town of Rocky Harbour adopted the proposed Municipal Plan 2024
on the 1St day of April, 2025, gave notices of their intention to so do by advertisements in the
Newfoundland Wire, a newspaper circulatino in the Municipal Planning Area, on the 23° and
30th days of April, 2025, and as well posted notices on Council's social media Facebook,
appointed a commissioner to hold the required public hearing on the 14th day of May, 2025,
received a report from the commissioner, upon which following consideration of the
commissioner's recommendations and expansion on the intentions thereof, resolved as follows:
a. That the side lot line between lots 55 and 57 Pond Road be used as the designation
boundary in Map 2 dividing the Industrial/Commercial and the Residential designations
and Map 2 be corrected accordingly, and,
b. The following revisions be made in Section 6.2.1 "Residential":
i. Deletion of the word "comprehensive" in line 1 of point 4 and substitution in its
place the phrase "multiple lot", in order to avoid confusion with the term
"comprehensive development".
ii. In point 6. deletion of "a. Comprehensive developments (see Section 6.3. 1 1)",
and re-lettering the rest of the list accordingly.
Resolved by the Council of the Town of Rocky 1-Iarbour on the 12th day of August. 2025.
Mayor:
Clerk:
Signed and sealed this
CO'L day of
Municipal Plan/Amendment
REGISTERED
Number
OOo7- ga2
Date
n
) 2_1,2 a
Signature
,-, 2025.
Council Seal
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
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Municipal Planning Area.
Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
2.0 INTRODUCTION
2.1 Title and Legal Status
This Municipal Plan 2024, when brought properly into effect, shall be officially known as the
Municipal Plan 2024 of the Town of Rocky Harbour. The following text and Future Land Use
Maps 1 and 2 contained herein constitute the Municipal Plan 2024 for the Rocky Harbour
®
It has been prepared and has legal effect in accordance with the Urban and Rural Planning Act,
2000. Upon completion of the required steps to bring it into legal effect, it repeals and replaces
the Municipal Plan which came into effect on 29 August, 2014, and all amendments made
.,,
thereto.
The Municipal Plan 2024 is a legal document, binding upon Council and any person or group
...
using or proposing to use land anywhere within the Municipal Planning Area. All development
must conform with the applicable policies of the Municipal Plan 2024 after the date upon which
it comes into effect.
The document presents statements regarding the Council's intentions with respect to the location
.
and manner in which development within its Municipal Planning Area shall take place. Future
Land Use Maps 1 and 2 show the Municipal Planning Area delineated as one or more land use
designations. Within each designation only specified kinds of development may take place.
2.2 Municipal Planning Area
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The territory subject to this Municipal Plan 2024 is that which is included within the boundaries
of the Rocky Harbour Municipal Planning Area. The Municipal Planning Area includes all lands
®
within the municipal boundary of the Town of Rocky Harbour plus a large area on the north-east
side of the community where the surface water supply watershed is located, as shown on Future
Land Use Map 1.
A strip of land accommodating Highway 430 as well as the site of the Parks Canada indoor
--
swimming pool are not within the municipal boundary nor are part of the Municipal Planning
NM
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
Area. This is an unusual situation in that the Municipal Planning Area comprises two wholly
detached geographic areas.
2.3 Purpose of Municipal Plan 2024
Council's policy is that the purpose of this Municipal Plan 2024 is to guide growth and
development within the Municipal Planning Area. It directs future growth so that municipal
services and land resources are used most efficiently. It also ensures that aspects of land
development such as safety, aesthetics, and environmental protection are given proper
consideration and that the views and aspirations of land owners and residents in various parts of
the Municipal Planning Area are observed as closely as possible.
Their views have been solicited in the first stage in the public consultation process. Submissions
from interested parties were received and considered. The need to proactively accommodate
growth for tourism and other commercial and industrial development is clear and in fact
represents the economic future of the community. Responding to this reality continues to be the
key to sustainability of the community.
2.4 Municipal Plan 2024 Administration; Role of Development Regulations 2024
Council is required to provide for administration of the Municipal Plan 2024 in conjunction with
the Development Regulations 2024, which are written in conformity with the Municipal Plan
2024 in the form of land use zoning, subdivision, and advertisement regulations.
The Development Regulations 2024 must comply with the requirements of the Urban and Rural
Planning Act, 2000 and the Minister's Development Regulations (Newfoundland Regulation
3/01 made by the then Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs and which came into force
on January 1, 2001). The Minister's regulations comprise a number of standard requirements
applicable across the province.
2.5 Review and Amendment
The Urban and Rural Planning Act 2000 at Section 28 requires that any Municipal Plan be
reviewed not later than every five years from the date it has come into effect. The general
intention is that Council may revise the Plan with a view to the developments which can be
foreseen for the next ten years. Consequently, the time frame for this Municipal Plan 2024 is the
ten-year period of 2024 to 2034.
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
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The Municipal Plan 2024 may be amended at any other time, in whole or in part, for reasons that
may have been unforeseen at the time it had initially been drafted. Any such amendment must
be consistent with the Municipal Plan 2024 as the amendment will be read together with and
become part of the Municipal Plan 2024.
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
3.0 PREPARATION AND APPROVAL
3.1 Preparation and Approval
For the Municipal Plan 2024 to gain full legal effect, a prescribed procedure must be undertaken
pursuant to Sections 15 through 24 of the Urban and Rural Planning Act 2000:
In brief, the process began with Council committing to the review process in February, 2023, and
retaining a qualified planner in the person of Mr. Jens Jensen of the consulting firm of HMJ
Consulting Limited. He engaged promptly with detailed discussions with staff and Council on
current issues and challenges.
A public presentation was made on 8 March, 2023, focussed on the substance of the current
planning documents. It was felt that having a knowledge of the current documents would enable
a more informed set of suggestions for changes. This was followed by discussions with the
consulting planner with some people who requested to do. When Council's process of preparing
the first drafts of the planning documents was completed, the drafts were presented at a public
meeting on 4 December, 2023. Comments were invited, to be submitted by mid-January, 2024.
One comment was received and considered, with a clarifying change made in response. After
some final editing, the documents were ready to be submitted to the Department of Municipal
and Provincial Affairs for review pursuant to section 15 of the Urban and Rural Planning Act
2000.
Part of the process is the consideration and harmonization with provincial government interests,
as described in Section 3.2. When the Department has reviewed the draft document and is
satisfied that it is acceptable in light of provincial and other government agencies' interests, the
Department officially releases it pursuant to Section 15 of the Act. Council then, by resolution,
is able to adopt the document pursuant to Section 16 of the Act.
Council must then advertise and provide for a public hearing at which objections or
representations to the adopted document are to be heard. The notice must appear twice in a
newspaper circulating in the Municipal Planning Area, in which Council states its intention to
seek the approval of the Municipal Plan 2024. The first notice must appear at least fourteen days
before the hearing date. The notice must state where and when the Municipal Plan 2024 can be
inspected and clearly give the time and place for the public hearing.
The hearing is conducted by a Commissioner appointed by the Council. A deadline date for the
submission of any written objections or representations is specified in the Act (two days before
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
the hearing). If no objections are received by the deadline, Council may cancel the hearing and
...
proceed directly to approve the Plan. If the hearing proceeds, the Commissioner conducts the
public hearing and subsequently prepares a report including recommendations. Council then
..,
considers the report and either approves the Municipal Plan 2024 (with or without changes) or
withdraws the proposed Plan. Council's approval is made pursuant to Section 23 of the Act.
The approved Municipal Plan 2024 then is submitted to the Minister of Municipal and Provincial
Affairs for review and registration, pursuant to Section 24 of the Act. For this, the Minister
requires two copies of the Municipal Plan 2024 which have been certified by the Clerk as having
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been adopted and approved by Council, a certificate by a Member or Fellow of the Canadian
Institute of Planners (MCIP or FCIP) that the document complies with the Act, the
.
Commissioner's report, and all written objections and representations that may have been
submitted for the hearing.
,..,
After a final review of the document and determining that it is not contrary to law or a policy of
the government of the province, the Minister will register the Plan in the Minister's planning
registry and Council will publish a notice to that effect, first in the provincial government's
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Newfoundland and Labrador Gazette and then in a newspaper circulating in the Municipal
Planning Area. The date of the publication of the notice in the Gazette is the date upon which
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the Municipal Plan comes into effect.
If the Minister chooses to not register the Municipal Plan, the document is returned to the
"
Council with information as to the reason for its unacceptability, and Council may then make
changes and resubmit the Plan in the same manner.
Ma
It is important to recognize that the new Municipal Plan 2024 does not come into legal effect
until the notice of the Minister's registration appears in the Gazette. Once in effect, the
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Municipal Plan 2024 is legally binding on Council and any person or party proposing to use or
develop land anywhere within the Municipal Planning Area.
.
A concurrent and parallel process is involved in the preparation, adoption, approval, and coming
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into effect of the Development Regulations 2024.
3.2 Provincial Interests
It is important to note that the Municipal Plan 2024 must respect topics that are identified as
"provincial interests", pursuant to Section 15(3) of the Urban and Rural Planning Act 2000. The
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
means by which this is done is by way of a report from an internal body of the provincial
government, the Interdepartmental Land Use Committee (ILUC). The ILUC report includes a
convenient summary of provincial policies and interests.
A Council may or may not agree with including subjects that are raised in an ILUC report but
nevertheless must include policies and requirements that may be of no interest to the Council or
indeed be outright offensive to them.
The ILUC report dated 16 May 2023 is summarized as follows:
1. The Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs requires compliance with their
"submission standards" which dictate matters to do with certain standardized procedural
and content points and the format of texts and maps. Also, the Department pointed out
the "exemption" provisions in the Highway Sign Regulations 1999, which were amended
in 2016 with significant effect on the ability of municipalities to regulate signage along
provincial highways.
2. Department of the Environment and Climate Change:
a. Water Resources Management Division requires harmony with regulations and
policies concerning several topics involving the water resources of the province,
including work in or near a water body, shore water, wetland or flood-prone area.
This includes a requirement that any Council policies and requirements harmonize
with the provincial government regulation pertaining to the Gull Pond Protected
Public Water Supply Area which serves the central municipal water system of the
community.
b. Environmental Assessment Division advised that the preparation of a revised
Municipal Plan and Development Regulations did not require registration under
Section 47 of the Environmental Protection Act 2002.
c. Climate Change Branch sent information on climate change related data and
energy efficiency, and regulations related to pollution prevention.
d. Pollution Prevention Division compiled a synopsis of the scope of the Division's
interests and a list of regulations relevant to the topic.
3. The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture requires harmonization of
municipal planning regulations with Departmental policies and regulations pertaining to
the:
a. Land Management Division, Agriculture Lands Section: protection and
enhancement of agricultural activity.
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
b. Crown Lands Division: harmonization of land titles and municipal planning
requirements, achieved through Council commenting on proposed grants of
Crown land to interested parties.
c.
Forest Ecosystem Management Division, calling for forestry activities to be
regarded as acceptable, including a request that domestic harvesting be permitted
in all locations.
d. GIS and Mapping Division, concerning the sanctity of geodetic survey control
monuments.
e. Land Management Division-Planning Section, concerning policies on Crown land
cottage lot allocations in the area north of Highway 430.
f. Wildlife Division about wildlife concerns in municipal plans, such as establishing
riparian buffers along wetlands and waterbodies and wildlife corridors.
4. Department of Industry, Energy and Technology supplied information on petroleum,
electricity, and renewable energy. The Department requires harmonization of municipal
planning regulations with Departmental policies and regulations concerning mining,
mineral workings, petroleum resources and removal of quarry materials during
development. Also, the Department's Geological Survey of Newfoundland and Labrador
indicated requirements and recommendations concerning coastal erosion and flooding,
sea-level rise, and geological hazards.
5. The Department of Tourism, Culture Arts and Recreation, Provincial Archaeology Office
reported on known archaeological sites requested that certain land development
applications be referred to that office for review, and, that applicants for permits be
cautioned on the significance of discovering historic artifacts.
6. Department of Transportation and Infrastructure noted that changes of use or municipal
regulations affecting access to provincial roads are subject to Departmental approval.
7. NL Hydro asked that Council or developers contact them concerning developments
which may encroach on their existing easements and right of ways, or, where easements
may be required to service new development.
8. Digital Government and Service NL: asking that the requirement for any development to
have a permit or approval, as is appropriate to the case, be noted.
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
4.0 KEY FACTORS AND APPROACHES AFFECTING DEVELOPMENT
The key points arising from the information and consultative processes described above are as
follows:
4.1 Geographic Setting and Settlement
Rocky Harbour is a significant community located on the Great Northern Peninsula on the west
coast of the island of Newfoundland, and lies embedded as an enclave in Gros Morne National
Park. The nearest principal towns are Corner Brook and Deer Lake, about 120 km and 71 km
distance, less than an hour's drive to the latter.
The town site is located on a horseshoe shaped coastal plain around Rocky Harbour, along which
the principal street, Main Street (South and North) follows the shoreline closely. The relatively
level area which now is occupied by the built-up area of the community provided good land for
the original development of the urban area of town. However, that relatively level, developable
area of land has practically reached its limit going directly inland from the harbour as Highway
430 confines further growth on the northeast side, and topography limits development further
along the shore outwards of the core. This restricts further development of the urban area to
expansion into selected immediately adjacent areas and by way of infilling vacant land within the
core.
Findings of arrowheads in the Salmon Point area indicate that the Micmac indigenous people
once inhabited the area. The community has been occupied by European settlers since contact in
the 1700s, with the first permanent settlement noted in 1809. It is recorded that a Mr. John Paine
and his wife Sarah lived in Rocky Harbour Cove followed by the Youngs. Common surnames of
those that followed and who still have descendants in the area are: Decker, Shears, Parsons,
Ellsworth, Pittman, Butt, Dodd, Wight, Watt, Sparkes, Cullihall, Major, Nicolle and Dyke.
The fishing village, run by English Merchants, grew rapidly. Fishing during the summer and
logging during the winter were the main industries. People grew their own vegetables, cured fish,
preserved local berries and raised animals for food, clothing and for work. Woody Point was the
"Commercial Center" of the area at that time and, everyone went there for the essentials, which
they could not produce themselves. Everyone was busy and it was said that the village prospered.
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
The first Church, the Church of England, came in 1891. In I 898 the first school was built. As the
village expanded, other churches and schools were built. Today there are four churches and a
modern 10 classroom K-12 school, which includes a large gym, music theatre, public library and
community internet access center.
The first Post Office opened in 1900 and in 1939 a Cottage Hospital was built in Norris Point.
While this building has been closed as a hospital, it is now known as the Julia Ann Walsh
Heritage Center, which has a mission of preserving local culture and heritage (including arts,
crafts, music and oral history), promoting health and wellness, and contributing to community
economic and social development.
With the expansion of the cod fishery into a modernized industry, requiring larger boats, local
boat builders went into full production of long liners and have built well over two hundred long
liners, cabin cruisers and sailboats. The construction and opening of Highway 430 connecting
north and south Bonne Bay in 1968 made travel to other areas much easier. Before the highway
was completed, residents of the north side of Bonne Bay had to travel to Norris Point, cross by
ferry to Woody Point, then get a bus to Deer Lake for the train to St. John's or bus to Corner
Brook for medical attention or even work. In winter the north side of Bonne Bay was pretty
much isolated.
Since the establishment of Gros Morne National Park in 1973 many tourism related businesses
have increased employment and have given the town a financial boost.
The community has developed in a fairly compact pattern focused on the harbour. A central
commercial area adjacent to the harbour historically provided most of the needed goods and
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services for the community and immediate area, but the era of modern highways and universal
use of automobiles has seen a concentration of many. major retail goods and services in larger
centres, particularly in Deer Lake and Corner Brook. Residential and institutional development
such as schools and churches developed in a network of streets which gradually spread over the
landscape directly inward from the harbour, mostly in the form of cul de sac streets off Main
Street.
More recently, with the development of Highway 430 and the creation of the National Park,
relatively new areas have developed in relation to the access roads leading off Highway 430,
which is a limited access highway, along West Link Road and Harbour Drive. A number of
residential subdivisions have been created in vacant lands in the core, such as Shears Village
Lane and Parsons Lane. That core area comprises somewhat less than half of the overall area
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
within the municipal boundary, the other half including Rocky Harbour Pond and lying along the
historic road to Norris Point, to the south.
The commercial focus of the Town has begun to shift from the waterfront to the access roads
intersecting Highway 430. Development on West Link Road includes a hotel and industries as
well as a service station at its intersection with Highway 430. The commercial development
along Main Street has been actually mixed with residential properties for many years, and it is
unlikely that there will be a substantial change in that regard in the future. There are very fine
opportunities along the shoreline for viewpoints, public open space and waterfront walking trails,
in particular in the area of the wharf at the end of Harbour Drive and at Salmon Point beyond the
southerly end of Main Street South.
The Gros Morne National Park facilities in the area include administration, recreation and
interpretation buildings, but none of the Park area is under the planning jurisdiction of the Town.
The Town's jurisdiction is limited to the area within the Municipal Planning Area boundary. It
is interesting, and very unusual, to note that the right of way of Highway 430 is excluded, the
result being that the Municipal Planning Area is divided into two parts. In practical terms, the
division of the Municipal Planning Area is of some interest, in that the water supply transmission
main crosses the highway and Council has an interest in the safety of pedestrians and vehicles
entering or crossing the highway. The current Municipal Plan does not foresee development of
any new Highway 430 intersections.
The relatively level, developable core area has practically reached its limit going directly inland
from the harbour as Highway 430 (a.k.a. the Viking Trail) confines further growth on the
northeast side, and topography limits development further along the shore outwards of the core.
These barriers to ready expansion of streets and services beyond the core area have a major
influences on the policies which emerged for this Municipal Plan 2024.
4.2 Demographics
It is important to understand the relationship between the state of the local economy and
demographics, as these are the fundamental matters affecting the future of the community.
"Demographics" in this context includes consideration of the natural balance of births and
deaths, and migration in or out.
A historical perspective: it is true that Rocky Harbour was very hard hit by the early 1990's cod
moratorium. A large loss of population occurred between 1986 and 2001, from 1286 down to
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
1002, over a 20% decline. That precipitous drop was mostly related to the coming of the cod
moratorium but outmigration was already a strong influence as well.
However, the decade since 2001 has seen a different story, as the population has been
maintained. Compared to many small communities in the province, this is remarkable.
Population projections available from the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador shed light on
the area to which Rocky Harbour's situation most closely relates, the area which includes Corner
Brook, Bay of Islands, Deer Lake, and up the Great Northern Peninsula as far as Belburns.
The 2011 census indicates the population of that area estimated to be 46,365. Provincial
government projections are produced for an optimistic case (high end) scenario in which birth
rates, mortality, and migration are mostly positive, in which the population is forecast to remain
practically steady. The medium case represents a loss of about 1%; this is the case that the
provincial government typically uses for long range planning. The low end case sees a loss of
about 3.5%.
The most localized projections, ie: for the Town of Rocky Harbour specifically, is naturally of
the greatest interest. The town's population has gradually declined since 2001, when it was
1002. The data from the Canadian census shows the population for the town to be 937 in 2021,
virtually identical to that in 2016, when it was 947. The population decline in the last five year
period of 2016 to 2021 was about 1%, practically identical to the percentage loss forecast for the
region as said above.
The above analysis supports a projection that the Corner Brook -- Rocky Harbour region will be
fairly stable in the long term. Local economic conditions and quality of life in the community
will heavily affect migration, the only variable that will influence population numbers in the long
term.
4.3 Economic Conditions and Quality of Life
The fishery and forest resources represented the economic base of the community for many
years. Although the fishery continues in a diminished form and is focused on different species
and processing methods, its future strength and structure are evolving on an uncertain path. The
community of Rocky Harbour and similar places on the Northern Peninsula are within
commuting distance of the commercial and industrial centres of Corner Brook and Deer Lake, as
well as the remaining fish processing plants in the area. That fact has potential to provide for
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
some commuting employment opportunities, and there are of course always going to be a certain
number of public administration jobs in schools and other institutions.
When Gros Morne National Park was established in the 1970s, an important new component of
the local economic base was added. Though there is still activity in the resource sectors, tourism
related employment and investment have grown steadily. At about the same time, the 1970s,
good road links were developed up the Northern Peninsula to St. Anthony, making Highway 430
(a.k.a. the Viking Trail) from Deer Lake to St. Anthony (and beyond via ferry to Labrador) a
busy highway transportation route.
The recently developed road link from the Red Bay shore to Happy Valley-Goose Bay has
opened a through route to Quebec and Upper Canada. Those highway linkages and the growing
attraction of the National Park have put Rocky Harbour in a favourable place with respect to
tourism. Not only is the National Park a world class destination, but the through traffic destined
for the National Historic Sites at L'Anse aux Meadows, Port aux Choix and Red Bay, and the
Grenfell Mission in St. Anthony is substantial and growing.
An important factor contributing to decisions to move to from a community is the quality of life
at that place. Measuring a community's "well-being" is a complex and somewhat subjective
notion as it is an amalgam of objective measurable statistics (such as average household income)
and individuals' perception of satisfaction with life in the community. The "Community
Accounts" section of the website produced by the provincial Department of Finance includes a
wide variety of informative statistics on many subjects, some of which have to do with the
concept of "wellbeing".
Surveys of residents across the province endeavoured to measure their satisfaction with life.
89.2% of survey respondents from Rocky Harbour said that they were "very satisfied or satisfied
with life in general", with a statistical precision of plus or minus 5.8%. And, Rocky Harbour
was in the 178th position in that percentage among all of the province's communities, about
midpoint. That and many of the other indicators show that Rocky Harbour is middling in many
respects of "well-being" compared to others in the province. One may fairly conclude that in
comparison with many other communities in the province, Rocky Harbour's residents enjoy a
positive overall situation of well-being.
However, a major issue has emerged since the former Municipal Plan was being devised: a
shortage of vacant land and housing for sale or rent, at affordable prices, due to the recent
consumption of land for purpose-built short term rentals (mostly cabins) and conversion of
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existing permanently occupied housing to short term rentals. Moreover, prices of dwellings of
all types and sizes have increased a great deal, under the influence of low interest rates (until
recently) and purchasing demand from relatively large numbers of people from away. The
growth of the tourism industry and shortage of short term rentals has created an undesirable
situation in which numerous portable accommodations including tents, motorized recreational
vehicles (RVs), towed trailers and open air camping are being used for visitors and industry
employees. The effect is unaesthetic and the developments sometimes are not satisfactorily
served with potable water or sewage facilities.
The result of these factors is a shortage of housing stock, both for permanent occupancy and for
visitors, available at locally affordable prices. This is a phenomenon seen across the country,
with dire implications for hopes that people with modest incomes could afford to buy even a very
modest home. There are no easy answers to the dilemma, and little that a municipal Council can
do to directly alleviate the concern. However, Council can creatively deal with development
requirements and efficiency in permitting to help to the extent feasible.
EIN
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
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5.0 VISION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
5.1 The Concept of Visions, Goals, and Objectives
These terms are often understood to mean practically the same thing. In systematic, "top-down"
planning, these are actually a hierarchy from the most general to the most specific.
A vision is the most general statement of the ultimate situation which is desired. Some would use
the term "aspirational", ie: that to which we aspire in the broadest sense, such as "my personal
vision is to live a happy life."
Goals are frequently employed as the essential foundation for any planning endeavour. The
means of achieving the vision is divided into goals, such as (to continue the personal example
just said) goals could be "to have enough income to live comfortably" and "to be healthy".
The formulation of goals, toward which efforts and resources are directed, becomes more
detailed and action oriented. Again in the personal example, goals under "have enough income"
and "be healthy" could be "match my skills and interests with earning a decent income" and
"take care of my health by proven methods", respectively.
Objectives are the more tangible and practical steps which are needed to achieve the goals.
Understanding and pursuit of the objectives can make the difference between wasted effort and
success. Objectives, continuing the personal example, could be: under "match my skills etc..."
an objective of "carry out a job search to look for a better situation" and under "take care of my
health..." an objective of "eat healthy foods, manage my stress and exercise regularly".
Policies are quite specific, action oriented statements of "how to do it". To continue the personal
example, the "carry out a job search..." objective could see a policy of "regularly and assertively
search job listings and reach out through people who may be able help." In this Municipal Plan
2024, policies are set out in Section 6.0 in terms that as clearly as possible say how Council is
going to accomplish the objectives.
5.1.1 The Municipal Planning Vision of the Town of Rocky Harbour
The vision is captured quite well in the following:
"Rocky Harbour has a history of being a caring community, looking after the well-being
of its citizens. However, the community is challenged by an undesirable effect of strong
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growth in the tourism industry: its beautiful, accessible setting as an enclave community
in a world-class ecotourist attraction has attracted unprecedented non-resident purchase
and use of land and conversion of housing to short term tourist rentals, which has made
housing availability and affordability pressing issues. All concerned desire to do what is
possible to mitigate that reality while at the same time striving to build and diversifi, the
local economy. The overall hope is to achieve a clean, safe, economically viable, largely
low density residential community for all its citizens, from youth to seniors, while
promoting health and wellness and protecting the environment."
Respecting that spirit and pursuit of the hope involves much more than just the good will,
imagination and hard work of Council and its staff in concert with relevant agencies. It is true
that the Council as a municipal government has the administrative capacity and the regulatory
authority that can deal with infrastructure and control of development, but only the business
community and senior levels of government can initiate major investments and interventions in
commerce and institutional services. Additionally, the citizens of the community have a major
role in making the community the envisioned place. Everyone is in this together.
5.1.2 Goals and Objectives
Complementing the vision, this Municipal Plan endeavours to deal with development concerns
by pursuing goals and the objectives related to each of them, as follows:
A) Growth and Urban Structure
Goal:
To provide for orderly growth and development within the
community.
Objectives:
a) Council will undertake to use this Municipal Plan to guide its
exercise of powers and responsibilities for the provision of
services, the allocation of land uses, and the general
development of the community.
b) Land uses will be allocated so as to encourage economic
development and to preserve and enhance positive features
reflecting the heritage and amenities of the community, while
also recognizing natural constraints and limitations, in order to
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improve quality of life in the community and protect life and
property, and to minimize effects on the natural environment.
c) Council will endeavour within its authority and resources to
foster and encourage growth of a sustainable local economy,
including attention to promotion of the community as a
desirable place in which to invest or take up residence.
d) Compact development of those areas already or to be serviced
by central water and sewer services will be promoted, in order
to provide those services to properties as efficiently as possible.
Use of private, on-site water supplies and sewage disposal
systems will be enabled in selected areas beyond the core of
the community.
e) Council will endeavour to minimize the adverse effects of
uncontrolled, large scale temporary use of land for
accommodating tents, trailers, recreational vehicles and the
like for visitors and residents.
When land is subdivided, appropriate dedication of land for park
land or public use will be required.
B) Housing
Goal:
To provide, to the extent feasible, for the long-term housing needs
of the community.
Objectives:
a) Housing shall be designed, sited and constructed to meet local
conditions and needs of residents of the community and to
facilitate the greatest development of available land resources
through a wide variety of housing forms. In particular, issues
of affordability and availability will be researched and
mitigations will be pursued.
b) To provide for significant flexibility in regulations affecting
housing, to enable a wide variety of housing sizes and styles.
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c) To regulate future subdivision of land for residential purposes
so as to present a pleasant appearance and an efficient
arrangement of streets and services.
C) Employment and Economic Development
Goal:
Objective:
To encourage institutional, commercial and industrial activities
that will meet the community's employment needs and provide
needed goods and services, and in particular to press for
strengthening and diversifying the economic base and employment
opportunities in the Town and surrounding communities.
a) To consult with the business community on a regular basis to
better understand business concerns and opportunities to grow
and strengthen the local economy.
b) To monitor developments concerning the fishery, the National
Park, and other economic sectors, with a view to representing
the community promptly and responsibly on points affecting
investment, government regulation, environmental impact and
community development.
c) To provide for flexibility and rapid response to development
proposals, particularly those related to small business startups
and expansions, so as to facilitate business development.
d)
To designate sufficient lands suitably located and serviced
for commercial and industrial development, so as to
achieve an adequate land base for economic development
and a more efficient land use pattern.
D) Environment and Natural Resources
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Goal:
To protect and enhance the environment and natural resources of
the community.
Objectives:
a) To limit development and use of lands outside of the
community's built-up area and areas designated for future
servicing and development, to areas having natural landscapes
of special interes and those of a rural nature which cannot be
compatibily carried on within the built-up area.
b) To provide and protect a safe and sustained drinking water
supply by severely restricting non-compatible development in
the present protected water supply area and seeking alternative
water supplies.
c) To control development in order to minimize its detrimental
effect on the environment and to be good stewards of the
natural resources within the community, in particular the
extraction of minerals and aggregates, use of forest resources,
and use of the Community Pasture.
d) To not regulate forestry operations in outlying undeveloped
areas, including issuance of domestic wood harvesting permits
or consideration of resource management, but to monitor
forestry activities to determine whether there is a future need to
consider intervention.
e) To severely limit development on lands featuring steep slopes,
wetlands, or watercourses, in conjunction with provincial
government interests.
0 To work in conjunction with the regional solid waste
management authority to implement modern management
facilities and programs, and to augment those improvements by
establishing efficient and effective means of minimizing the
amount of waste from the Town directed to final disposal, by
recognizing the resource values of recyclable and compostable
materials and establishing local programs related to them.
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E) Public Recreational and Cultural Facilities
Goal:
To establish, preserve and improve natural spaces, recreational
facilities, and cultural expression to meet local needs.
Objective:
a) To continually adjust and improve recreational and cultural
opportunities in the community for all age and ability groups.
b) To support efforts by volunteers to engage in programs and
facilities to enhance the quality of life in the community.
c) To designate lands for such facilities which are in secure
control of Council for exclusive use as recreational or cultural
amenities and discourage their conversion to other uses.
d) To ensure ready public access to, and accord protective status
to, valued trails when considering development applications.
F) Transportation and Highway Safety
Goal:
To provide a safe and efficient transportation network to move
people and goods into, out of and throughout the community.
Objective:
a) To develop a list of priorities for road improvements and work
toward maintaining the public streets in good condition.
b) To work constructively with the provincial government to
secure adequate funding to maintain roads in good condition.
c) To work toward more and better crossings of Highway 430 for
pedestrians, cyclists, and motorized vehicles.
G) Municipal Finance
Goal:
To effectively manage the financial resources and commitments of
the community.
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Objectives:
a) To implement municipal improvements which match both the
policies and priorities of the Municipal Plan and the financial
capabilities of the community.
b) To improve the cost effectiveness of municipal servicing by
implementing compact, carefully planned serviced
development.
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6.0 DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT AND POLICIES
This section presents a general view of the policies specific to the various land use designations
....
set out in this Municipal Plan 2024, as well as policies applicable to all areas in the community.
Those policies are based on an overall development concept, which includes a brief summary of
..,
the treatment of the topics in the former Municipal Plan.
PIP
6.1 Overall Development Concept Evolved from Former Municipal Plan
Much of the vision, objectives and goals of the former Municipal Plan is applicable in this
,..,
Municipal Plan 2024, such as respect for residential areas, local business opportunities and
natural environmental features, as well as recognition of municipal infrastructure needs.
However, since the 1990s and continuing to date, it has been seen that the capacity for infilling
vacant land for new development within the already serviced core of the community has become
severely limited.
FM
The substantial growth of the tourism industry in the community has seen unprecedented demand
for land for permanent housing and accommodations for visitors. Among the effects are the
.
increasing use of portable accommodations including tents, motorized recreational vehicles
(RVs), towed trailers and open air camping, for both short term and practically permanent
occupancy. The general thrust of the policies in this Municipal Plan 2024 is to limit their
..,
locations to approved campgrounds and marinas and as very small numbers as accessory uses in
association with dwellings on residential lots.
Wig
Areas for long term expansion of residential development are most logically located adjacent to
existing designated Residential areas, from which streets and central services can be extended.
.
That general approach continues to be appropriate where contiguous services and land are
available, ie: the lands lying in the southwest part of the core, ie: toward Salmon Point, between
Old Cove Road and the shore. Most of the undeveloped lands in that part of the Municipal
..,
Planning Area will be designated Residential, as they mostly are in the former Municipal Plan.
In the former Municipal Plan, opportunities to further develop the tourism industry were
generally limited to the Mixed Development lands along Main Street North and South and along
Harbour Drive and Eastern Drive. It is now clear that the lands available for tourism-oriented
development in and amongst the existing streets and developments in the core of the community,
ie: the Mixed Development and Residential designations in the former Municipal Plan, are
MP
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practically exhausted. The Municipal Plan 2024 will feature a substantial expansion of the
Mixed Development designation in areas peripheral to the Residential designation, adjacent to
Harbour Drive and at Salmon Point. Those additions will provide some short-term relief but
much more is needed for the longer term.
Council recognizes the need to take bold steps to proactively accommodate substantial growth in
tourism and related development by securing a land base essential to the economic future of the
community. In this Municipal Plan 2024, a large undeveloped area along Pond Road south of
Rocky Harbour Pond, formerly designated as Rural and Mixed Development, will have a new
designation, Tourism Commercial, which is not found in the former Municipal Plan. Its purpose
will be to see the area develop exclusively for tourism-oriented accommodations and services.
The Tourism Commercial area is mostly provincial Crown land. The large area involved, and
the need to reckon with servicing and the form of development, suggests that the area be treated
as a reserve for which a "development scheme" pursuant to s.29 of the Urban and Rural
Planning Act 2000 would be prepared after this Municipal Plan 2024 comes into effect. In order
for its potential to be fully realized, new development will not be permitted in the meantime but
new developments on privately owned land will be made permissible. That method enables
Council to prepare the details of fostering and controlling future development by way of a
secondary plan, ie: a "development scheme", without unduly constraining current owners'
enjoyment and use of their private lands.
The general trend in many municipalities to do with industrial and commercial development of
larger scales or higher intensity is toward a "business park" model, wherein retail, personal
service, industrial, and business offices would be located. It is desirable to continue the
Industrial/Commercial designation in the former Municipal Plan for this purpose, and to apply it
to a larger area in which residential development is not yet present and where new residential
development would not be permitted.
The added Industrial/Commercial designation needs to be at least as large as that in the former
Municipal Plan as that area has been largely consumed by commercial and industrial
development. An area formerly designated as Rural, generally between the Arena and the verges
of the Bottom Brook headwater wetlands, will expand the designation by about an equal area. In
addition, a large area lying along the southern end of Dump Road will be so designated for
longer term development of Industrial/Commercial uses as well as tall wind turbines, tall
antennas, mineral extraction due to the presence of significant sand and gravel deposits in that
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
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area, mining and petroleum extraction. Development requiring access from Dump Road may
involve upgrading of that road to an appropriate standard according to the use.
A number of sites designated as Recreational Open Space in the former Municipal Plan, mostly
within the Residential designation, relate to recreational and cultural facilities. Those that were
so designated in the former Municipal Plan are continued except to restrict the designation to
those lands that are owned, licensed or leased by the Town of Rocky Harbour; this policy
resulted in deletion of some sites for that reason. A small number of new sites are added to
reflect additions to the sites held for public recreation and cultural facilities. The designation
name is changed to Public Recreational and Cultural to better describe its function.
Other areas outside the developed core of the community feature woodlands, ponds, wetlands,
some sites of steep slopes, some farm land, natural resources and large open areas of great
natural beauty, including:
-
An operating farm at the southern extent of the Municipal Planning Area, accessed from
the Norris Point access road, and, a remote area which lacks ready access, bounded by
other designations in the southerly part of the Municipal Planning Area, will be
designated as Rural. Their function relates to natural resources and wildlife habitat.
-
An area of special significance on the shore of Bonne Bay which is an extraordinary
natural landscape; it will continue to be designated as Special Conservation. A splendid
coastal trail follows the shore, paralleled by a highland trail on high ground. Its area
includes a long-established Community Pasture which has fallen out of use in recent
years, but still has the legal status accorded to it when it was set up. Some day, it may
return to its former use as interest and opportunity to raise livestock may revive; it is also
an area where community gardens could be established, to the benefit of local food
security.
-
The large area north and east of Highway 430 includes mostly undeveloped provincial
Crown land abutting the National Park. Development of the area is very limited in order
to maintain the compact form of development south and west of the highway and to
discourage off-road travel near the National Park. Crown Lands has in the past allocated
cottage lots in the Rural designation in this area; this may resume in the future. This area
also accommodates the community's protected water supply watershed. These areas are
largely to be left undeveloped and thus designated as Rural or Water Supply respectively.
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
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Environmentally sensitive areas designated as Environmental Protection are appropriate
to continue in order to reflect two types of environmental concern (one for steep slopes
and the other for wetlands/sensitive shorelines).
6.2 Policies Specific To Land Use Designations
The policies stated in this section 6.2 reflect the intended overall development pattern described
earlier, and apply only to development within the respective land use designations under which
they appear, unless stated otherwise. The land use designations are:
Residential
Mixed Development
Tourism Commercial
Industrial/Commercial
Public Recreational and Cultural
Environmental Protection A and B
A for steep slopes
B for wetlands and sensitive shorelines
Special Conservation
Rural
Water Supply
Land areas which correspond to the designations are shown on Future Land Use Maps 1 and 2.
The land use designations correspond to land use Zones set out in the Development Regulations
2024, with the Zones bearing the same boundaries and names as the above designations.
The following sections for each designation include a synopsis of the development concept set
out in section 6.1
All policy sets include consideration of certain types of development as discretionary uses. In
evaluating applications for such uses, Council shall consider the policies set out for the
respective designation and Council may call for and review information as may be needed to
evaluate proposals, as listed in the appendix to this Municipal Plan 2024, titled Site Plan
Information.
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6.2.1 Residential
The areas designated as Residential on the Future Land Use Maps include existing residential
a.
areas and a selected area into which future residential development is intended to locate. Those
areas are contiguous to areas already serviced by municipal water and sewer systems and are
accessible for extensions of existing public streets.
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The following policies will guide the future growth and development of the Residential
designations:
The Residential designations are established as indicated on Future Land Use
Map 2.
2.
Uses permitted in the Residential designation are:
a. Single dwelling class,
b. Double dwelling class,
c. Mobile home class,
d. Keeping of animals as pets of a number and species as stated in the
Development Regulations 2024.
3.
Uses which may be approved subject to Council's discretion include:
a. Row dwelling class,
b. Apartment building class,
c. Collective residential class,
d. Boarding house class,
e. Theatre class,
f. Cultural and civic class,
g. Educational class,
h. Place of worship,
i. Funeral home class,
j. Child care class,
k. Subsidiary apartments in single dwellings or mobile homes, and,
1. Wharves, boat sheds, stages and docks where they are the main use.
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
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4.
Residential growth shall be accommodated in approved multiple lot subdivisions
and through the orderly infilling of already serviced areas in the designations, to
ensure the efficient use of available lands. New subdivisions shall be serviced
with public streets and extensions of the municipal central water and sewer
systems.
5.
The non-residential uses which may be permitted by way of discretionary
approval are subject to evaluation of the applications, which shall give primacy to
the residential role of the area. Council will consider the impact of the bulk and
scale of proposed discretionary uses to ensure that development does not
adversely affect the residential character and amenity of the area and that
provision is ensured for adequate space for on site parking and loading, and where
needed that buffering is provided.
6.
Further to (3), Council may at its discretion, and subject to conditions as detailed
in the use zone table for the Residential (Res) Zone in the Development
Regulations 2024, approve the following:
a. Temporary developments (see Section 6.3.13),
b. Home based businesses, and,
c. Agriculture uses and keeping of animals as pets which would not be permitted
pursuant to 2; see section 6.3.7.
6.2.2 Mixed Development
As said in the historical sketch given earlier in this document, the focus of the initial settlement
pattern of the community was naturally the harbour and the fishery infrastructure that grew up on
the waterfront. Immediately inland was the principal commercial street along which retail and
service establishments were located, together with the primary public services such as the post
office, municipal building, and churches. Those areas are still characterized as a mixture of
residential and commercial development, and are expected to continue in that way for the
foreseeable future.
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
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The areas to which this designation shall apply are as follows:
a) Along almost the entire length of Main Street, North and South, from the fish plant at the
southwest end and almost to the Town boundary just beyond Spring Lane at the other
end. The residential uses there may over time be superseded by commercial
development, but this is not foreseeable within the ten year span of the proposed
Municipal Plan.
b) Lands along Harbour Drive and Eastern Drive in the vicinity of Highway 430 and
between Harbour Drive and Shears Lane. Those areas are of interest as they offer good
highway exposure to visitors entering the community, which would be supportive of
tourism related and other small enterprises. Again, a mixture of uses may evolve over
time in that area as opportunities are presented. It is also possible that that area may
develop entirely as a residential area.
c) Lands at Salmon Point, as an extension of the designation in the former Municipal Plan
beyond Main Street South. This area has water views and infrastructure attributes that
are supportive of tourism-related commercial development.
d) Two separate areas accommodating small businesses, lying along Pond Road near its
intersection with Lookout Road. These are well established and may evolve into a variety
of commercial uses or perhaps revert to residential uses. However, it is not intended that
Pond Road from Main Street South to Lookout Road become built up as a mixed
development street except at its intersection with Main Street South, so these areas should
be regarded as exceptions in the surrounding Residential designation.
Mixed Development areas have the potential to accommodate small business startups in existing
..,
buildings, and redevelopment of existing larger commercial and light industrial buildings to
other uses. These are important to the economic future of the community. Accordingly, great
flexibility is needed in the ability of Council to promptly consider approval of applications for
.
non-residential uses related to improvement of the local economy. It is the intention of Council
to permit a wide variety of development types, while ensuring the amenity and safety of existing
residential uses.
MU
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
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The following policies will guide the growth and development of the Mixed Development
designations:
1.
The Mixed Development designations are established as indicated on Future Land
Use Map 2.
2.
Uses permitted in the Mixed Development designations are:
a. Single dwelling class,
b. Double dwelling class,
c. Mobile home class,
d. Recreational open space class,
e. Conservation class,
f. Cemetery class,
g. Keeping of animals as pets of a number and species as stated in the
Development Regulations 2024, and,
h. General garage class use at 48 Main Street South, subject to conditions (see
Section 6.4).
3.
Uses which may be approved subject to Council's discretion are:
a. All other residential group except for mobile home park class,
b. Subsidiary apartments in single dwellings or mobile homes,
c. Assembly group, including electric vehicle charging stations,
d. Special care institutional division,
e. Business & personal service group, including electric vehicle charging
stations,
f. Mercantile group, including electric vehicle charging stations, and,
g. Wharves, boat sheds, stages and docks where they are the main use.
4.
Commercial uses must be compatible in scale and appearance to surrounding
residential uses. Commercial uses will be limited to those that will not be a hazard
or nuisance to residences and will be separated an adequate distance from
adjoining residences.
5.
In considering approval of recreational open space uses, the amenity and privacy
of nearby residential dwellings will be taken into consideration.
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
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(NM
6.
Further to (3), Council may at its discretion, and subject to conditions as detailed
in the use zone table for the Mixed Development (MD) Zone in the Development
Regulations 2024, approve the following:
a. Comprehensive developments (see Section 6.3.11),
b. Temporary developments (see Section 6.3.13),
c. Home based businesses, and,
d. Agriculture uses and keeping of animals as pets which would not be permitted
pursuant to 2; see section 6.3.7.
6.2.3 Tourism Commercial
This designation is intended to accommodate substantial growth in tourism-oriented
accommodations and services. In this Municipal Plan 2024, a large undeveloped area along
Pond Road adjacent to Rocky Harbour Pond, formerly designated as Rural and Mixed
Development, will be designated Tourism Commercial to secure a land base essential to the
economic future of the community.
fie
substantial scale and intensity in an orderly and efficient way.
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The lack of much development in the new area, which is largely Crown land, presents an unusual
opportunity. The opportunity is that of working with the Crown Lands agency and other
provincial government interests to identify and encourage tourism-oriented new development of
The proximity to Pond Road, which is the route from the core of Rocky Harbour to Norris Point,
provides numerous access points for streets or lanes running inland from the road. Also, the
shoreline along Rocky Harbour Pond may afford fresh water recreational opportunities. As there
is very little development in that area at present, the potential for land use conflict would be
greatly diminished if suburban style residential development were not permitted from the outset.
The large area involved, and the need to reckon with servicing and the form of development,
suggests that the area be treated as a reserve for which a "development scheme" pursuant to s.29
of the Urban and Rural Planning Act 2000 would be prepared after this Municipal Plan 2024
comes into effect. In order for its potential to be fully realized, development will not be
permitted except that developments on the small amount of privately owned land in the
designation will be permissible to allow changes and further development and to avoid them
being classed as non-conforming.
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
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The following policies will guide the future growth and development of the Tourism
Commercial designation:
1. The Tourism Commercial designation is established as indicated on Future Land Use
Map 2.
2. Uses permitted in the Tourism Commercial designation are:
a. Existing developments that legally existed when this Municipal Plan 2024
came into effect.
b. Where located on privately owned land:
i. Single dwelling class,
ii. Double dwelling class,
iii. Mobile home class,
iv. Recreational open space class,
v. Conservation class,
vi. Cemetery class, and,
vii. Keeping of animals as pets of a number and species as stated in the
Development Regulations 2024.
3. Uses which may be approved subject to Council's discretion are, where located on
privately owned land:
a. All other residential group except for mobile home park class,
b. Subsidiary apartments in single dwellings or mobile homes,
c. Assembly group, including electric vehicle charging stations,
d. Special care institutional division,
e. Business & personal service group, including electric vehicle charging
stations,
f. Mercantile group, including electric vehicle charging stations, and,
g. Wharves, boat sheds, stages and docks where they are the main use.
4. Further to (3), Council may at its discretion, and subject to conditions as detailed in the
use zone table for the Tourism Commercial (TC) Zone in the Development Regulations
2024, approve the following, where located on privately owned land:
a. Comprehensive developments (see Section 6.3.11).
b. Temporary developments (see Section 6.3.13).
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
c. Home based businesses, and,
d. Agriculture uses and keeping of animals as pets which would not be permitted
pursuant to 2; see section 6.3.7.
5. On all lands not privately owned and located in the Tourism Commercial designation, the
sole permitted use is the conservation class and there are no discretionary uses.
6. Council will work expeditiously with the provincial government and interested parties in
preparing a development scheme as enabled by s.29 of the Urban and Rural Planning Act
2000, with the objective of setting in place policies and requirements which would
complement and enable tourism-oriented development of substantial scale and intensity
in an orderly and efficient way.
6.24 Industrial/Commercial
As time has passed, the original focus of industrial development in the community has shifted
from the waterfront wharves and fish plant to an area inland. The concentration of industrial and
commercial development along West Link Road from Highway 430 to Pond Road has included a
hotel and several commercial and industrial uses. Much of the land with frontage directly on
West Link Road had been developed as of 2023, and thus large areas south of the Arena and
along the southern end of Dump Road have been designated Industrial/Commercial to add to the
designation established in the former Municipal Plan.
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The lands occupied by the provincial government highways depot off West Link Road, and the
fish plant at the end of Main Street South, are also continued in their designation of
Industrial/Commercial as that accurately reflects their uses and potential for redevelopment.
The following policies will guide the future growth and development of the
Industrial/Commercial designations:
1. The Industrial/Commercial area designations are established as indicated on Future Land
Use Map 2.
2. The purpose of this designation is primarily to accommodate larger scale and more
intrusive commercial and industrial uses which would not be compatible with residential
uses.
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
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3. Uses permitted in the Industrial/Commercial designations are:
a. Industrial group, including electric vehicle charging stations,
b. Business & personal services group, including electric vehicle charging stations,
c. Mercantile group uses, including electric vehicle charging stations,
d. Keeping of animals as pets of a number and species as stated in the Development
Regulations 2024,
e. Electric vehicle charging stations, and,
f. Mineral and petroleum exploration class uses.
4. Uses which may be approved subject to Council's discretion include:
a. Assembly group uses, including electric vehicle charging stations,
b. Institutional group uses, including electric vehicle charging stations,
c. In the Industrial/Commercial designation lying along Dump Road: tall antennas
and tall wind turbines (see Section 6.3.1 (9) and Definitions of "tall" and "short"
antennas and wind turbines in the Development Regulations 2024),
d. Mineral workings, mines and petroleum extraction class uses where located in the
Industrial/Commercial designation lying along Dump Road,
e. Forestry class uses where located in the Industrial/Commercial designation lying
along Dump Road, and,
f. Short antennas and wind turbines located anywhere in the designations--see
Section 6.3.1 (9) and Definitions of "tall" and "short" antennas and wind turbines
in the Development Regulations 2024, and,
g. Wharves, boat sheds, stages and docks where they are the main use.
5. New development shall be connected to the municipal water and/or sewer service where
available and serviced by private systems otherwise, subject to the proponent securing
Certificates of Approval from provincial government authorities.
6. Further to 4, Council may at its discretion, and subject to conditions as detailed in the use
zone table for the Industrial/Commercial (IC) Zone in the Development Regulations
2024, approve the following:
a. Comprehensive developments (see Section 6.3.11), and,
b. Temporary developments (see Section 6.3.13).
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6.2.5 Environmental Protection: A and B
The natural environment can often be adversely affected by conflicting development.
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Environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands are valuable natural assets which ought to be
protected for their intrinsic values. Information from the ILUC report indicates that development
on slopes above 15 degrees, ie: about 30%, is particularly risky. Such lands featuring high risk
of erosion and geological instability due to steep slopes must be kept free of development to
prevent their degradation.
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The following policies will guide the future growth and development of the Environmental
Protection A and B designations:
1. Two subcategories of Environmental Protection will be used to relate to the
respective reasons related to them:
A Sensitive shorelines and wetlands (including watercourses)
B Steep slopes whereon building is not advisable, generally slopes exceeding 20%
2. The Environmental Protection designations are located as follows:
A: two areas:
a. The entire shoreline on salt water except for two short lengths, one around
the wharf at the foot of Harbour Drive ("The Bottom"), as that area is
intended to be developed as a public amenity, and, the other on the
shoreline of the property occupied by the fish plant at the end of Main
Street South.
b. The watercourse of Bottom Brook from salt water to the wetland which is
its headwater or source water, and that wetland.
B: two areas featuring steep slopes, lying off both sides of Pond Road.
3. Uses permitted in the Environmental Protection A and B designations are:
a. Conservation class,
b. Keeping of animals as pets of a number and species as stated in the
Development Regulations 2024, and,
c. Enlargement or renovation of existing main buildings and development of
new buildings which are accessory thereto.
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4. Uses which may be approved subject to Council's discretion are:
a. Recreational open space class uses not involving buildings, and,
b. Wharves, boat sheds, stages and docks where they are the main use.
5. Further to (4), Council may at its discretion, and subject to conditions as detailed in
the use zone table for the Environmental Protection Class A and B Zones in the
Development Regulations 2024, approve:
a. Temporary developments (see Section 6.3.13),
b. Home based businesses, and,
c. Agriculture uses and keeping of animals as pets which would not be permitted
pursuant to 3; see section 6.3.7..
6. For the purpose of interpreting the boundaries of the Environmental Protection A and
B areas, their boundaries shall be interpreted as follows:
A: to lie at a minimum set distance from the top of seashore coastal cliffs or the
high water mark for seashore beaches without cliffs, and a minimum set
distance from the high water mark on each side of Bottom Brook and its
source wetland. The minimum set distances will be stated in the Development
Regulations 2024. With regard to the Bottom Brook buffer, Council
recognizes that a wider riparian buffer would be ideal, but this area is already
constricted by existing development so a wider buffer would be practically
meaningless. Where provincial government regulations differ from those
requirements, the provincial government regulations shall prevail.
B: where the points along the toes and brows of the overall designation
generally begin to slope at over 20%.
6.2.6 Water Supply
The community water supply is a surface watershed protected under the Water Resources Act
2002, the Gull Pond Protected Public Water Supply Area, located northeast of Highway 430.
Part of the protected area lies outside the Municipal Planning Area boundary, so only a part falls
under the purview of this Municipal Plan.
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
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It is critically important that the watershed not be compromised by any development or activity
not related to the integrity of the water supply. It is a protected public water supply area, subject
to regulations made pursuant to the Water Resources Act 2002.
The following policies will guide the future use and development of the Water Supply
designation:
1. Council will act assertively to protect the water supply area from intrusion and
inappropriate use, and cooperate and assist in any actions to that end taken by the
provincial government.
2. Uses permitted in the Water Supply designation are:
a. Conservation class, and,
b. Other uses which are compatible with the water supply role of the designation and
in compliance with the provincial government regulation under the Water
Resources Act pertaining to the Gull Pond Protected Public Water Supply Area.
3. The sole use which may be approved subject to Council's discretion is the forestry
class, provided the development is beneficially related to the water supply function of
the area and in accordance with a forestry management plan approved by the
provincial authorities and Council.
6.2.7 Public Recreational and Cultural
The Public Recreational and Cultural designation is applied to areas intended to be for public use
as recreational or cultural facilities or conservation, such as the Arena, community hall, playing
fields, sports grounds, parks and playgrounds, in some cases in conjunction with natural,
undisturbed landscapes. Though much of the use of such sites does not involve buildings, some
sites do support large buildings such as the Arena and community hall.
The value accorded these places suggests a need to prevent hasty decision making should there
be proposals to develop these lands for other types of uses. These amenities often reflect many
years of care and dedication by Councils and volunteers, for the benefit of the community. It
follows that any other use of these lands which might be approved should be for equally
desirable uses.
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
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The following policies will guide the future growth and development of the Public Recreational
and Cultural designations:
I. The Public Recreational and Cultural designations are illustrated on Future Land Use
Map 2.
2. Uses permitted in the Public Recreational and Cultural designations are:
a. Recreational open space class,
b. Conservation class,
c. Theatre class,
d. Cultural and civic class,
e. General Assembly class,
f. Child care class,
g. Indoor and outdoor assembly classes uses,
h. Keeping of animals as pets of a number and species as stated in the Development
Regulations 2024, and,
i. Dog parks.
3. Uses which may be approved subject to Council's discretion include:
a. Educational class,
b. Take-out food service class,
c. Outdoor market class,
d. Short antennas and short wind turbines--see Section 6.3.1 (9) and Definitions of
"tall" and "short" antennas and wind turbines in the Development Regulations
2024, and,
e. Electric vehicle charging stations, and,
f. Wharves, boat sheds, stages and docks where they are the main use.
4. Public Recreational and Cultural uses are highly valued features in the community and
are not to be changed to other designations without very careful review of the merits of
the proposed changes.
5. This designation will be applied only to lands which are owned, leased or licensed by the
Town of Rocky Harbour.
6. For clarity, public walking and cycling trails are not limited to locations only in this
designation, as they are intended to run through all designations.
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
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7. Further to (3), Council may at its discretion, and subject to conditions as detailed in the
use zone table for the Public Recreational and Cultural (PRC) Zone in the Development
Regulations 2024, approve temporary developments (see Section 6.3.13).
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6.2.8 Special Conservation
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For many years, a large area southwest of the core of the community, overlooking Bonne Bay,
has been regarded as a special, natural outdoor asset. The area includes the now dormant
Community Pasture, and large areas which provide for beautiful views over Bonne Bay. Their
special natural features suggest that they should be distinguished from other designations, to
maintain their near-pristine natural features.
The following policies will guide the use and development of the Special Conservation
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designations:
1. The Special Conservation designation is established as indicated on Future Land Use Map 2.
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2. It is the intention that these areas remain for the long term as undeveloped large natural areas
available for certain resource uses and for passive public recreational uses such as hiking,
appreciation of scenic lookoffs, snowmobiling, and the like.
3. Uses permitted in the Special Conservation designation are:
a. Conservation class, and,
b. Where located in the Community Pasture areas, agriculture class uses, for clarity
including the keeping of animals for agricultural purposes.
4. Uses which may be approved subject to Council's discretion include:
a. Where located outside the Community Pasture areas, agriculture class uses, for
clarity including keeping of animals for agricultural purposes,
b. Forestry class,
c. Wharves, boat sheds, stages and docks where they are the main use, and,
d. Recreational open space class.
3. Forestry use is to be subject to a forestry management plan approved by that Department.
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
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4. Recreational open space uses may be permitted as discretionary uses, subject to careful
control of the specific nature of the proposed use to ensure that their features are compatible
with and supportive of the intention to maintain the Special Conservation area in a near-
natural state.
5. In no case will buildings other than boardwalks or decks be permitted except as uses
accessory to approved uses.
6. Further to (4), Council may at its discretion, and subject to conditions as detailed in the use
zone table for the Special Conservation (SC) Zone in the Development Regulations 2024,
approve temporary developments (see Section 6.3.13), and,
6.2.9 Rural
Rural lands are habitat for wildlife and are used extensively for recreational purposes, farming
and extraction of natural resources. Significant non-farm development has not occurred in the
Rural designations to date.
The following policies will guide the future growth and development of the Rural designations:
1. The Rural designations are illustrated on Future Land Use Maps 1 and 2.
2. Lands designated Rural shall be developed primarily for uses utilizing the areas' natural
resources and land uses not compatible with the urban environment.
3. Uses permitted in the Rural designations are:
a. Agriculture class,
b. Forestry class,
c. Outdoor market class,
d. Mineral and petroleum exploration classes,
e. Recreational open space class,
f. Conservation class, and,
g. Keeping of animals as pets of a number and species as stated in the Development
Regulations 2024.
4. Uses which may be approved further to those listed in 3 but subject to Council's
discretion, include any other uses except for:
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
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a. Solid waste class uses, and,
b. Seasonal residential (cottage) uses where located northeast of Highway 430 (see
Section 6.3.15).
5. Further to 3 and 4, Council may at its discretion, and subject to conditions as detailed in
the use zone table for the Rural (RUR) Zone in the Development Regulations 2024,
approve:
a. Comprehensive developments (see Section 6.3.11),
b. Keeping of animals as pets which would not be permitted pursuant to 3 (see
section 6.3.7),
c. Home based businesses, and,
d. Temporary developments (see Section 6.3.13).
6. Council will not extend municipal services to any development located in areas
designated Rural. However, owners may connect to municipal services if available, at
their own expense.
7. Council will not approve new large-scale mineral workings, mines and petroleum
extraction and related activities from taking place within general view of developed areas
of the community.
8. Mineral and petroleum exploration activities and mineral workings, mines and petroleum
extraction shall be conducted in a manner which will minimize the adverse effects on
water quality, fish and wildlife, and shall be buffered from adjacent development. All
such operations will be required to complete a site rehabilitation plan as a part of the
development application. Council may attach such conditions as are in its opinion
necessary to properly regulate the operation such as the following subjects and matters:
a. Landscaping, screening and fencing,
b. Rehabilitation, and,
c. Noise, dust and pollution control.
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
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6.3 General Land Use Policies
Unless otherwise stated, the following policies apply throughout the entire Planning Area:
6.3.1 Sustainability of Development
It is important to take forward-looking measures to address the sustainability of the quality of life
of the community. Council's policies as set out below are intended to provide overall direction
to enhance sustainability of development:
1. In considering discretionary use applications, Council will give the highest priority to
reasonable compatibility with existing and intended future developments in the area,
while being supportive where a proposed land use can operate without any significant
adverse effect on the surrounding area.
2. The Development Regulations 2024 will detail requirements including but not limited to
the following topics, with the purpose of developing and maintaining an attractive and
functional community:
a. Yards and setbacks from lot lines, including modifications to enable use of
mobility aids,
b. Subsidiary apartments,
c. Keeping of animals,
d. Screening and landscaping of adjacent uses,
e. Accessory buildings and uses ,
f. Adequacy of features of site grading, drainage and landscaping to mitigate against
erosion onto and pollution of adjacent development and lands and bodies of water
receiving drained water from the site,
g. Family and group care centres,
h. Advertisements (signs), and,
i. Temporary uses.
3. Undeveloped lands in the core of the community which lay vacant or unused have
become aesthetic blights, deter efficient use of land, and/or impede desirable extensions
of municipal infrastructure. Council will use measures at its disposal to encourage and
incentivize development of those lands by applying taxation and other available means.
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
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4. New developments must front on a public street except where this requirement is
unnecessary or undesirable, such as for access to resource exploration or extraction
activities and for wind turbines and antennas (see Section 6.3.1 (9) and Definitions in the
Development Regulations 2024).
5. New development of structures and subdivisions shall be connected to the municipal
water and sewer services where available and serviced by private systems otherwise. Use
of private water supply and/or private sewage disposal systems is subject to the
proponent securing Certificates of Approval from provincial government authorities.
6. Council will continue its program of carrying out water supply source and distribution
studies, including the feasibility of extending the municipal system into the Tourism
Commercial designation.
7. The provincial government requirements concerning groundwater resources related to use
of private wells include compliance with the Groundwater Supply Assessment and
Reporting Guidelines administered by the Water Resources Division of the Department
of Environment and Climate Change. At the time of adopting the Municipal Plan 2024,
those Guidelines require such an assessment when five or more new lots are proposed to
be created (a groundwater assessment study will not be required for subdivisions of less
than five lots, each having a minimum 2,023 square metre area, unless the area has
documented drinking-water quality and/or quantity problems). The numbers of lots are
cumulative, adding new lots as further subdivision of the original parcel takes place.
These requirements are subject to change by the provincial government.
8. Council will not become involved in the ownership, operation or maintenance of lands
and works associated with privately owned and cooperatively operated water supplies or
sewage disposal systems which serve multiple consumers.
9. Concerning development of wind turbines and antennas: the antennas and wind turbines
(windmills) class represent an aesthetic and safety concern. Council anticipates proposals
for antennas and wind turbines to be located in any location. Council's balancing of
safety, land consumption and aesthetic considerations calls for case by case review in
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
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accordance with Council's policies, as follows:
a. For the purpose of definition of "tall" and "short" wind turbines and antennas,
there shall be a height to distinguish them to be specified in the Development
Regulations 2024, measured from established grade to the top of the antenna or
vertical axis of a wind turbine or to the rotor hub of a horizontal axis wind
turbine.
b. Tall wind turbines and tall antennas will be listed as discretionary uses only in the
Rural designation and in the Industrial/Commercial designation lying along Dump
Road.
c. Short units will be listed as discretionary uses only in the following designations:
i. Industrial/Commercial in all areas so designated,
ii. Rural in all areas so designated,
iii. Public Recreational and Cultural.
d. Council acknowledges that regulation of antennas is in the jurisdiction of the
Government of Canada, and that the role of Council is to take part in consultative
processes which proponents are invited to follow. Council is recognized as a
local "land use authority" in current federal government guidelines concerning
consultation. It is Council's policy that the policies and requirements set out in
the Municipal Plan 2024 and the Development Regulations 2024 describe the
aspirations of the community in this regard, and that Council's view is that the
process of municipal permitting provides an orderly method of dealing with
public consultation and Council's input to federal authorities.
e. Guy wires and anchors of wind turbines and antennas are to be located on the
same lot as the tower.
10. Forestry class uses, including commercial harvesting and processing of products of the
forest, silviculture and access roads, are permitted or are eligible for discretionary
approval, only in the following designations and in accordance with the respective
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Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
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policies for each of them in section 6.2 (domestic harvesting is a use which is accessory
to all uses):
a. Industrial/Commercial in the area lying along Dump Road,
b. Water Supply,
c. Special Conservation, and,
d. Rural.
11. An appropriate dedication of land for park land or public use will be specified in the
Development Regulations. The matter of adequate and usable legal public access to a
waterway or water body may be used in lieu of land within the subdivision as a
consideration in the review of an application for a development or subdivision of land in
close proximity to a waterway or water body. Development on water lots or grants of
ownership to the water's edge will be treated in the same manner as the adjacent
designation of land.
12. For cases where unusual circumstances are anticipated, especially for very large scale or
complex developments, Council may require submission of a detailed site plan for review
and approval as described in this Municipal Plan 2024. See Section 7.2.
13. In order to assist in protecting Control Survey Markers (important land survey geodetic
monuments), a caution will be included on development permit application forms
warning of the presence of such markers and the Development Regulations will include a
requirement to report disturbance of them to the GIS and Mapping Division of the
Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.
14. Council will consider protection and enhancement of wildlife habitats in making land use
planning decisions. Where possible, wildlife travel corridors, periods during the year
when development would be paused to minimize disturbances in breeding season, and the
effects of noise and illumination may be incorporated in development approval
conditions. The Wildlife Division of the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and
Agriculture will be consulted when considering major development proposals.
15. Council will require development permit applicants to identify existing access
constraints, e.g. provincial roads and Council and NL Hydro infrastructure right-of-ways
on site or adjacent to it, other easements, and the like, and the means of satisfactorily
addressing them.
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6.3.2 Affordability of Housing; Short Term Rentals
The issue of affordability and availability of housing is a major detriment to the quality of life
and opportunity for people who would like to move to and reside in the community. The
underlying economic factors in recent years that have brought this about, such as the local strong
tourism-based economy, low interest rates and conversion of permanent housing stock to short
term rentals, is largely beyond the influence of local government. However, some aspects of the
situation are within the grasp of a municipal Council.
Council's policies concerning this issue are:
1. To engage in research and advocacy concerning the issue in all ways and with great
priority.
2. To pursue development of the Tourism Commercial designation as described in section
6.2.3, to increase the stock of all forms of housing, including short term rentals for the
tourism and the seasonal labour force.
3. To make requirements in the Development Regulations 2024 concerning short term
rentals which would influence the design and operation of those accommodations so as to
encourage efficient use of land and appropriate infrastructure. The 2024 Tourist
Accommodations Act and its Regulations require those who would develop new short
term rental accommodations to register with the provincial government. One of the
requirements for registration will be, or is expected to be, proof of compliance with
municipal planning requirements. The scope of municipal authority in this regard is not
well defined, so an ongoing monitoring and adjustment of Council's requirements will be
needed. Detailed requirements will be set out in the Development Regulations 2024 and
made subject to stand-alone amendments to facilitate prompt reactions to changing
circumstances dictated by changes in that Act and its Regulations.
4. To make development standards and other requirements in the Development Regulations
2024 to be tolerant of a wide variety of housing forms to enable development of a larger
and more inclusive housing stock, subject to reasonable requirements concerning
compatibility with other development. This will include not setting a minimum floor area
requirement for single dwellings, seasonal dwellings and mobile homes.
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To encourage the use of "comprehensive development" forms of approval for innovative
and productive designs of groups or clusters of housing types, in which, for examples,
private lanes could be used instead of public streets for access to individual units, or, bare
land condominium arrangements could be used for groups of dwellings to share common
landscaping and parking.
Development of individual mobile homes and mobile home subdivisions shall meet the
same standards and conditions as specified for single dwellings. Exterior finishes and
features shall be of a type found in conventional single dwelling construction in the
community.
Development of the mobile home park class is prohibited as Council does not want to be
involved in potentially unstable agreements for servicing, maintenance and operation of
such developments. Other forms of cluster or bare land condominium development
involving grouping of mobile homes are acceptable.
6.3.3 Natural Hazards to Building
The following policies are intended to prevent or mitigate exposure of buildings and lands to
natural hazards and the Development Regulations 2024 will include requirements involving
these factors pursuant to evolving provincial government guidelines, policies and regulations:
l . Professional review and advice will be required to evaluate any proposal for the erection
of a structure on a site which is potentially subject to natural hazards including sea level
rise, coastal flooding from storm surges, inland flooding, unstable slopes, or other
physical hazards. The Geological Survey of Newfoundland and Labrador have reported
that Rocky Harbour (the water body) and Bear Cove are highly sensitive to short term
coastal erosion.
2. The Development Regulations will provide for prohibition of development (except for
necessary intrusions such as wharves, boatsheds, stages and the like which must have
connection to the ocean) below an elevation required by provincial government policy.
The ILUC report recommends that no development except for marine works be permitted
below the 4 metre contour. While that may be highly desirable, such a policy
indiscriminately applied would be practical only in a part of the Municipal Planning Area
as said in 3 below.
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3. Further to point 2 above, Council acknowledges that significant areas of the community
already fully developed along Main Streets North and South and up some side streets are
vulnerable to coastal flooding. While the ILUC report recommends that new
development not be permitted in areas lying below the 4 metre contour, Council views
such a measure applied there as impractical since the area affected is already fully
developed. The recommended buffer of lands below the 4 metre contour will be applied
only to the undeveloped coastline running southward from the fish plant at the end of
Main Street South.
4. Council will endeavour to be well equipped to provide for emergency measures
capability and to investigate means by which flood damage can be minimized when it
occurs.
5. Certain large areas of land in the Municipal Planning Area predominately feature steep
slopes. Information from the ILUC report indicate that development on very steep slopes
is particularly risky, and thus those areas are designated as Environmental Protection -- B
and treated accordingly in the Development Regulations 2024. See section 6.2.5.
6. In its deliberations on municipal planning matters, Council will consider the expected
effects of climate change as the science evolves, particularly concerning the frequency
and severity of extreme weather events such as heavy rainfalls and snowfalls, droughts,
wind gusts and the like, as they affect public safety and vulnerability of infrastructure and
properties to damage.
6.3.4 Municipal Services and Public Utilities
Some of the costs of running a municipal government are proportional to the overall length of
municipally maintained streets, sidewalks, street lights, water services, drainage, signage and
landscaping. Generally, the more spread out a settlement becomes, the more these per unit costs
increase.
In order to control these costs, Council's policies are that:
1. Extensions to the water, sewer and street system, including improvements to the water
supply works required to service new development and which are not part of the
Council's capital works program, shall be the financial responsibility of the developer,
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although the Council may access senior government financial assistance where possible
to encourage and assist desired works.
The layout of new streets and services will include features to facilitate efficient services
and integration of streets and lines with those on adjacent lands, including endeavouring
to create a pattern of loops rather than dead end streets and utility lines.
Any such infrastructure which is intended to be conveyed to the Council shall be
designed and constructed to modern engineering standards, and shall be subject to
approval by Council.
Public utility infrastructure for water works, sewerage, flood and storm water
management, and for street lines for electrical power transmission and
telecommunications, will be permitted in all areas.
6.3.5 Protection of the Natural Environment
Protection of the natural environment is a high priority. The quality of air, land, and water in and
around the community, and aesthetic considerations, are important to the health, culture, and
.
economy of the area. The role of Council in this regard is intertwined with the roles and
authorities of the Government of Canada and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Under the authority of the Water Resources Act 2002, the Department of Environment and
Climate Change is responsible for the management of water resources of the Province of
.
Newfoundland and Labrador, and coordinates with the federal Department of Fisheries and
Oceans. The provincial department has regulations, policies and guidelines to protect, enhance,
conserve, develop, control, and effectively utilize the water resources of the province on topics
including but not limited to the following:
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a. Development within 15 metres of a waterbody or watercourse if in a Crown land
reservation,
b. Risk of flooding,
c. Discharge of any effluent off the subject property,
d. Work in any body of water, including shore waters,
e. Infilling of water bodies or diversion of streams (usually not approvable if for residential
development),
.
f. Construction of wharves, breakwaters, slipways and boathouses,
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g. Infilling or dredging associated with marine structures or other works,
h. Any development in a protected public water supply area,
i. Providing waste receptacles in work areas,
j. Waste diversion actions including recycling, reuse or resale programs,
k. Open burning of waste,
1. Pesticide and halocarbons use, purchase and storage,
m. Petroleum (including used oil) storage and dispensing,
n. Effects of climate change,
o. Use of water, including development in any protected public water supply area and non-
domestic use of water, and,
p. Energy efficiency in buildings.
These matters will be identified in the Development Regulations 2024 as a reminder that such
requirements will apply to proposed developments. In order to ensure that the requirements of
the provincial Water Resources Act 2002 are respected in Council exercising its planning
authority pursuant to the Urban and Rural Planning Act 2000, the Development Regulations
2024 will provide detailed requirements about development near or in any water body, including
ponds, streams, rivers, shore waters and wetlands, regardless of the zone in which they are
located.
Further to the above, Council's policies are:
1. As a general principle, development should not pollute or degrade any part of the
community. In cases of large or special types of projects where environmental protection
concerns are complex, the proposals should be carefully studied and any concerns
brought to the attention of the appropriate provincial or federal authorities.
2. Owners of dilapidated, unsightly or dangerous buildings and lands will be required to
remove or mitigate the offensive features.
3. Operators of fire pits, ponds, pools, and other outdoor features will be required to operate
safely and with due regard to preventing nuisance or unsafe conditions affecting others.
4. Garbage, refuse, abandoned vehicles and any other discarded materials of any kind
should be disposed of only at an authorized waste disposal site or facility outside the
Municipal Planning Area. Such material shall not under any circumstances be used as fill
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for buildings and lots. Wrecked or inoperable vehicles, machinery or equipment of any
kind shall not be stored or abandoned where it may be in public view.
6.3.6 Advertisements (Signage)
Council's policies concerning signage are as follows:
1. All advertisements (signs) are to be tastefully presented (in terms of size and overall
design), properly situated and well maintained in order to prevent unwanted visual
effects. Detailed requirements are found in the Development Regulations 2024.
2. The provincial Highway Sign Regulations 1999 under the Urban and Rural Planning Act
2000, as amended in 2016, apply to all highways constructed and maintained by the
Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. The requirements of these regulations
must be reflected in Municipal Plan and Development Regulations. A provincial
government permit is required for any sign erected within designated control lines of a
highway. In that regard, Council's information and policies are as follows:
a. According to section 5 in the said regulations, the control lines extend 400 metres
from the centerline of the road except within incorporated municipalities, where
the control line extends 100 metres from the centerline. Within this control line,
corridor 1 is reserved for regulatory, directional and fingerboard information
signs. Off-site promotional signs are restricted to those associated with uses listed
in the Schedule and are restricted to corridor 2. The Highway Sign Regulations do
not provide for other types of off-site signage including digital signs.
b. The Government Service Centres, Digital Government and Service NL, are the
authority for the Highway Sign Regulations, 1999.
c. The said regulations provide an opportunity for municipalities to apply for an
exemption so that Council's own Development Regulations can have effect. This
exemption only applies where the speed limit is less than 60 km/hr. In order to do
so, the sign regulations must be drafted and circulated to the Departments of
Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, Transportation and Infrastructure and
Digital Government and Service NL. Once these regulations are accepted by these
departments, they can then be included in a Council's municipal plan and
development regulations.
d. Council's policy is that once this Municipal Plan 2024 and Development
Regulations 2024 are brought into effect, due consideration of the desirability of
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an exemption will be given, and if desired, Council will then formally request an
exemption to the Highway Sign Regulations 1999 and upon approval will then
move to amend the Municipal Plan 2024 and Development Regulations 2024.
e. In the meantime, requirements affecting all locations in the Municipal Planning
Area will be included in the Development Regulations 2024, and a clear statement
will be made that they will have no effect within the control lines established in
the Highway Sign Regulations 1999.
6.3.7 Agriculture and Keeping of Animals
People keep animals for a variety of reasons: as pets for the companionship and enjoyment of
them in the household, and as economic assets in some cases providing food, fur and other
materials as well as labour for the benefit of the owner.
It is important to distinguish agricultural uses which involve keeping of animals from those
which do not, ie: those which do not include field crops or horticulture. Where agriculture is
listed as a permitted use without elaboration as to whether animals are involved, the use would
include keeping of animals for the production of food, wool, skins, or fur, or for use in the
farming of land.
Keeping of pets is not a matter of significant concern in this Municipal Plan 2024, as the activity
tends to be self-regulating as far as land use is concerned. However, when animals are bred,
raised or kept for purposes other than as small pets, it is appropriate to regulate the locations of
buildings and outdoor ranges and characteristics of various species for sanitary and nuisance
reasons.
The following policies will guide the regulation of agriculture class uses and keeping of animals
as pets or for agricultural purposes:
1. Council will permit keeping animals as pets, for which no application will be required. A
reasonable number of animals of acceptable types will be defined in the Development
Regulations 2024 for clarity. This will be stated in the lists of permitted uses in all
designations except for the Water Supply and Special Conservation designations, for
clarity.
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2. Agricultural uses are permitted only in the:
a. Rural designation, and,
b. Community Pasture areas in the Special Conservation designation.
3. Further to (2), Council may at its discretion, and subject to conditions as detailed in the
use zone tables in the Development Regulations 2024, approve agricultural uses in the
following:
a. Residential designation,
b. Mixed Development designation,
c. Tourism Commercial designation, where located on privately owned land,
d. Environmental Protection A and B designation,
e. Areas outside the Community Pasture areas, in the Special Conservation
designation,
f. Comprehensive developments (see Section 6.3.11), and,
g. Temporary developments (see Section 6.3.13).
4. Further to 1, keeping of large animals or larger numbers of animals, where to be kept as
pets as said in 1 above, may be approved by Council at their discretion in the following
designations:
a. Residential,
b. Mixed Development,
c. Tourism Commercial, where located on privately owned land,
d. Environmental Protection A and B,
e. The areas outside the Community Pastures in the Special Conservation
designation, and,
f. Rural.
5. Applications made pursuant to 2, 3, or 4 above will be referred to the Department of
Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture for review. The approval of that Department of the
proposed operation, including but not limited to a manure management plan and renewals
of their permits, and other permits as detailed in the Development Regulations 2024, shall
be a condition of approval of Council permits. Further, Council will be vigilant to
ensure that any undesirable impacts of agricultural animal activities are brought to the
attention of that Department for review and remedial action.
6. As municipal planning laws are not intended to be used to deal with situations where
animals are not properly housed or not given appropriate care, Council may refer their
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observations concerning public health, cruelty to animals, noise and other such matters to
the appropriate authorities.
6.3.8 Removal of Quarry Materials
Quarry materials produced as a by-product of an approved development may be removed from
the development site. Site preparation to construct a building usually involves removing topsoil,
overburden, and sometimes bedrock from the footprint area; these materials may be retained or
re-used on the development site. Quarry materials include but are not limited to aggregate, fill,
rock, stone, gravel, sand, clay, borrow material, topsoil, overburden, subsoil, and peat. Note that
removal of quarry materials for the purpose of development shall not constitute mineral
workings, which are subject to provincial approval.
The Department of Industry, Energy and Technology requires that they be notified of upon
issuance of a permit for a development involving removal of quarry materials from the site for
any reason, so that they can ensure that provincial government regulations are observed.
In order to assist the provincial government in this regard, Council's policy is that the said
Department will be made aware of approved developments where the excavation of quarry
materials may take place and that the Development Regulations 2024 will contain a statement to
the effect.
6.3.9 Archaeological and Heritage Resources
Archaeological sites and discoveries are protected pursuant to the Historic Resources Act 1985.
At the time of writing this Municipal Plan 2024, there were three known archaeological sites in
the Municipal Planning Area.
Council's policy is to direct proponents to initiate consultation with the Provincial Archaeology
Office during the early planning stages of any major development in any area, and for any scale
of development located within 50 metres of the ocean shoreline, that involves land use or ground
disturbance. These discussions are necessary to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to
protect known sites, and where deemed appropriate, archaeological surveys be undertaken in
areas of high potential prior to development to safeguard any sites yet to be discovered.
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The Development Regulations 2024 will specify that anyone discovering potential artifacts or
conditions during work on a development shall stop work and report the finding to Council and
the Provincial Archaeological Office, and not proceed until authorized in accordance with the
specified procedure.
Council's policy is to scrutinize development applications for information on proximity to any
known registered sites in the Municipal Planning Area, and where applicable notify the
Provincial Archaeological Office before approval of any permit.
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petroleum be enabled in areas where appropriate. This is recognized in that mineral and
petroleum exploration is permitted in the Rural designation and in the Industrial/Commercial
designation lying along Dump Road. Development in the mineral workings, mines and
petroleum exploration and extraction classes may be approved at Council's discretion in the
Rural designation and in the Industrial/Commercial designation lying along Dump Road. The
Development Regulations 2024 include measures appropriate to these land uses.
The specific locations of registered sites will not be identified in the Municipal Plan 2024 or
Development Regulations 2024, to minimize their exposure to vandalism and looting, but the
sites will be known to the Council.
6.3.10 Minerals, Mines and Petroleum Resources
The Municipal Planning Area does not feature any active mining or petroleum extraction
activity. There has been considerable interest in hydrocarbon resources on the west coast of
Newfoundland, with several exploratory wells and seismic testing having been carried out.
Although there are no active quarry permits at the time of writing this Municipal Plan 2024,
there is some interest in establishing a new quarry on Dump Road. There are several areas of
recognized aggregate resource potential which are of provincial interest for their sand and gravel
deposits. Many of those recognized areas lie under the already developed community and are
essentially inaccessible for extraction. There are substantial deposits of sand and gravel toward
the southeastern end of the Municipal Planning Area, at the southern end of Dump Road.
Provincial government interests require that exploration and extraction of minerals and
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6.3.11 Comprehensive Development
Council's policy is that where the use or uses are permitted in the use zone table for the
applicable zone, a comprehensive development containing two or more individual developments,
may be permitted as a single comprehensive development. It must have access to a publicly
owned and maintained street but may include both public streets and private lanes giving
common access to various areas within the development, and other standards may be modified or
waived in accordance with a development agreement with Council. The development must be
compatible with adjacent developments, and the use classes and overall density of the
comprehensive development must comply with the use zone schedule of the zone in which it is
located.
6.3.12 Flag Lots
The availability of building lots for new development is constrained by topography and natural
barriers and the extent to which the community and municipal infrastructure are already
developed. Sometimes the challenge is simply that of access to a public street. Innovative use of
"back lot" developments in the form of "flag lots" can enable development on areas of land lying
behind existing lots fronting on streets.
It is Council's policy to approve subdivisions of land involving creation of flag lots and for
development on flag lots, as enabled by Section 13 (3) (n) of the Urban and Rural Planning Act
2000, including consideration of variances to reduce the widths of the legs of flag lots where the
width is less than the minimum requirement, so as to maximize the availability of lands for
development where the impact of doing so is minor in nature.
6.3.13 Temporary Developments
Generally, the Municipal Plan 2024 contemplates developments of a permanent nature in all of
the Municipal Planning Area. Two areas of concern to Council are the growing number of cases
of undesirable use of land for portable accommodations of all kinds, and the desire to be able to
consider situations involving the placement of a motor vehicle or travel trailer or equipment or
use of land for short terms.
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Council's policies in these regards are:
I. Developments for human occupancy comprising temporary or portable structures (other
than mobile homes), including but not limited to travel trailers, recreational motor homes,
tents, open air camping, houseboats and watercraft, are to be located only in permitted
campgrounds or marinas and are otherwise prohibited, other than for one such unit
located on a lot on which a main residential building exists (for this purpose,
outbuildings, sheds, garages, barns and the like are not to be deemed "main buildings"
where located on an otherwise undeveloped lot).
2. Council may approve temporary developments other than as described in I. for vehicles
and equipment at events such as community festivals or for a laydown or equipment yard
for a construction project or in extremely rare, severe and compelling cases for a
residential use for compassionate reasons. Provisions will be included in the
Development Regulations 2024 for suitable approval context and maximum time periods
applicable to these cases.
This policy is not to be confused with policies concerning short term rentals set out in Section
6.3.2.
6.3.14 Non-Conforming Uses
Section 108 of the Urban and Rural Planning Act 2000 concerns non-conforming uses, ie: those
uses which do not conform to a regulation, scheme or plan, and, which existed before the
registration under section 24 of this Municipal Plan 2024 and Development Regulations 2024.
For clarity, Section 108 in quoted below in italics. Council's policy concerning the length of
time for resumption after discontinuance of a non-conforming use as provided in (2) is to make it
twelve months:
(1)
Notwithstanding a plan, scheme or regulations made under this Act, the minister,
a council or regional authority shall, in accordance with regulations made under
this Act, allow a development or use of land to continue in a manner that does not
conform with a regulation, scheme, or plan that applies to that land provided that
the non-conforming use legally existed before the registration under section 24 of
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the plan, scheme or regulations made with respect to that kind of development or
use.
(2)
Notwithstanding subsection (1), a right to resume a discontinued non-conforming
use of land shall not exceed 12 months after that discontinuance unless otherwise
provided by regulation under this Act.
(3)
A building, structure or development that does not conform to a scheme, plan or
regulations made under this Act that is allowed to continue under subsection (1)
(a) shall not be internally or externally varied, extended or expanded
unless otherwise approved by the minister or appropriate council, regional
authority or authorized administrator;
(b) shall not be structurally modified except as required for the safety of
the building, structure or development,.
(c) shall not be reconstructed or repaired for use in the same non-
conforming manner where 50% or more of the value of that building, structure or
development has been destroyed;
(d) may have the existing use for that building, structure or development
varied by the appropriate council, regional authority or authorized administrator
to a use that is, in their opinion more compatible with a plan and regulations
applicable to it;
(e) may have the existing building extended by the appropriate council,
regional authority or authorized administrator where, in its opinion that
extension is not more than 50% of the existing building,.
(f) where the non-conformance is with respect to the standards included
in development regulations, shall not be expanded if the expansion would
increase the non-conformity; and
(g) where the building or structure is primarily zoned and used for
residential purposes, may, in accordance with the appropriate plan and
regulations, be repaired or rebuilt where 50% or more of the value of that
building or structure is destroyed.
6.3.15 Cottage Planning and Development Areas (Crown Land)
The Land Management Division of the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
administers areas in which the provincial government will consider use of Crown land for
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cottage development. Policies in the Municipal Plan 2024 must harmonize with those
provisions, as follows:
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1. Cottage Planning Area: provincial government Directive 004-96 identifies the entire
part of the Municipal Planning Area lying north of Highway 430 as a "cottage
planning area". Pursuant to that directive, no more cottages (including any on
Eastern Arm Pond) are to be developed until a cottage development plan is prepared.
In this Municipal Plan 2024, that area is designated in two parts, as Rural or Water
Supply. Council's policy shall be that no cottages are to be permitted in the Water
Supply designation, and the same to apply to the Rural designation until such time as
a cottage development plan for the Rural designation is prepared and is approved by
Council, at which time this Municipal Plan 2024 and Development Regulations 2024
will be amended accordingly.
2. Cottage Development Areas: there are six distinct areas of land located within the
Cottage Planning Area in which the provincial government has in the past allocated
cottage lots. The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture have advised that
all available lots were allocated through a public draw system in 2012, and there is no
indication if or when more lots will be made available.
6.4 Certain Matter Carried Forward--General Garage at 48 Main Street South
Generally, all of the policies in the previous Municipal Plan will cease to have effect upon the
coming into effect of this wholly new Municipal Plan 2024. However, there is a topic that of
necessity must be carried forward.
This matter concerned enabling approval of a general garage in the then Mixed Development
designation at 48 Main Street South (subject to conditions). This was achieved by way of
amendments made to the previous Municipal Plan and Development Regulations, which added
that use (subject to conditions) at that location to the permitted uses lists for the Mixed
Development designation in which it was located. The conditions included in the corresponding
amendment to the Development Regulations, such as fencing, restrictions on range of goods for
sale, landscaping, signage, and the like, were devised to minimize off-site impacts or address
potential negative impacts of the said development, are to be included in the Mixed Development
Zone in the Development Regulations 2024.
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It is Council's policy to continue the policy in the former Municipal Plan to do with the subject
development by adding "general garage class use at 48 Main Street South, subject to conditions"
to the permitted use list for the Mixed Development designation in this Municipal Plan 2024, and
correspondingly state the same in the permitted uses list and carry forward the previous
conditions into the Use Zone Table for the Mixed Development Zone in the Development
Regulations 2024.
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7.0 MUNICIPAL PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
7.1 Introduction
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In order to enforce and implement the policies of the Municipal Plan 2024, Development
Regulations 2024 and a capital works program conforming with them, are required.
7.2 Development Regulations
Development Regulations ensure that development takes place in accordance with the goals and
objectives and within the framework of the land use policies of the Municipal Plan. The manner
in which the Regulations are drafted and the form in which they appear must comply with the
requirements of the Urban and Rural Planning Act. Like the Municipal Plan, the Development
Regulations are binding upon the Council and all other persons and organizations unless
specifically exempted by superior legislation.
The Development Regulations 2024 consists of five parts: General Regulations, General
Development Standards, Advertisement Regulations, Subdivision of Land Regulations and Land
Use Zones. The first four are similar for all communities in the province, though variations are
found. However, the Land Use Zone section (Schedule C), is extensively tailored to conform to
this Municipal Plan 2024.
I. General Regulations
Among other things, the General Regulations govern matters relating to the
power and authority of a municipality to regulate development within its
community and establish conditions relating to the issuing of permits and local
appeal boards.
II. General Development Standards
The General Development Standards relate to such matters as the siting of
buildings on building lots, building height, setback from the street, buffers
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between certain types of development, parking and access requirements, non-
conforming uses and other related matters.
III. Advertisement Regulations
Advertisement (signage) regulations control the size, shape. location, siting,
illumination and material construction of signs for safety and the general
aesthetics of the community.
IV. Subdivision of Land Regulations
Subdivision regulations govern the development and division of parcels of land
into two or more lots. They include standards for street improvements, lot sizes
and lot layouts, procedures for dedicating land for public purposes, acceptance
of proposed engineering works and other necessary requirements.
V. Land Uses Zones
Zoning is a means of implementing Municipal Plan 2024 policies. Land Use
Zone tables are given, in which lists are presented of permitted and discretionary
uses and prohibited uses, together with applicable conditions, for each land use.
In addition, the Development Regulations 2024 include a recitation of regulations made by the
then Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs to apply to all municipalities. That text, being
Newfoundland Regulation 3/01, made under the Urban and Rural Planning Act, 2000, came into
force on January 1, 2001, and is included in all municipal development regulations, to bring them
more effectively to the attention of the reader.
7.3 Development Control
Before any development can take place, an application must first be made to Council for a
development permit. Development may take place only after Council has reviewed the
application and issued a permit. If the approval is considered as a discretionary use, the proper
process of advertisement and hearing as required by the Urban and Rural Planning Act, 2000,
shall be carried out.
Council's policy is that anyone who fails to follow the required application process or who
otherwise violates the Municipal Plan 2024 and Development Regulations 2024 shall be ordered
to stop work and make a proper application and if said application be not made or if made not
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approved, then to remove any illegal structure and restore the site, land use and buildings on it to
their original state, pursuant to section 102 of the Urban and Rural Planning Act 2000. Such
orders shall take precedence over orders made pursuant to the Municipalities Act 1999 for
classifications which fall under the definition of "development" in section 2(g) in the Urban and
Rural Planning Act 2000.
Day-to-day administration is the responsibility of Council and its authorized staff members. It is
the duty of authorized staff members to implement the Municipal Plan 2024 through the
Development Regulations 2024, refer development applications to outside agencies and issue all
required permits when approval is granted.
An application to develop must be made on the proper application form prescribed by Council.
All applications must show with sufficient accuracy the location of the site of the proposed
development and include a plot plan, showing the location of existing and proposed buildings
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and structures on the site.
Council will consider the application to determine whether it conforms with the requirements of
the Development Regulations 2024 and the policies of the Municipal Plan 2024. If it conforms,
Council will approve the application and inform the applicant and state any conditions that may
apply. If the proposed development does not conform to the Municipal Plan 2024 and
Development Regulations 2024, the application must be refused. Any applicant who is
dissatisfied with the decision of Council may appeal in accordance with Part VI of the Urban
and Rural Planning Act 2000.
Council has discretionary authority to grant a variance (not to be confused with a discretionary
approval) of up to 10% of a numerical requirement applicable to a proposed development which
does not strictly comply with the development standards. However, the proposed development
must conform to the general intent of the Municipal Plan 2024. A proposed development must
not change the permitted land use, or negatively impact on adjoining properties. Where Council
deems it useful and necessary so as to better consider the details of a complex project, a Site Plan
may be required of the applicant; in such cases, Council can require some or all of the
information listed in the Site Plan Information list appended to the Municipal Plan 2024.
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The Town of Rocky Harbour has brought the National Building Code into effect in 2013. Its
requirements and administration are separate from those of the Municipal Plan 2024 and
Development Regulations 2024. Often, building and planning regulations are considered in
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conjunction with each other, as the prospective builder is usually considering them both, and
Council may integrate information requirements on a common application form. However, the
approval of a building permit under the National Building Code does not signify an approval of a
permit pursuant to the Development Regulations 2024, and vice versa.
Council's policy is that the municipality does not provide building design reviews nor building
inspection services related to the National Building Code. Council's or staffs observations of
new construction will be only to ensure that the Development Regulations 2024 requirements are
met, such as those concerning location of structures on the lot, parking, driveway location and
bridging roadside ditches and sidewalks, building height, and the use of the development. Those
persons requesting building design review or inspection related to compliance with the National
Building Code or other codes will be advised to retain professional services at their own
discretion and expense. Council does not issue occupancy permits.
7.4 Public Works
Essential to the implementation of the Municipal Plan 2024 is the carrying out of complementary
public works project. Council must also demonstrate its ability to cover its share of costs in any
capital works requests. It is recognized that extensions of the water and sewer systems required
for (or as a part of) new development (including residential subdivisions) are the responsibility of
developers and not the municipal or provincial governments.
7.5 Development Schemes
Section 29 of the Urban and Rural Planning Act, 2000 provides Council with the authority (upon
adoption of a municipal plan) to prepare and adopt Development Schemes. Development
Schemes are detailed localized plans outlining the manner in which a specified part of the
community is to be developed. Through a Development Scheme, land may be reserved for such
things as public roadways, residential subdivisions, schools, parks or open space.
Development Schemes can also provide for the acquisition, subdivision, sale or lease of land and
buildings by the municipality. They are prepared and adopted in the same manner as adopting a
Municipal Plan, and when approved, form part of the Municipal Plan 2024.
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7.6 Municipal Code of Conduct in Matters of Municipal Planning
When making decisions concerning municipal planning, including applications for discretionary
approvals, Council will act in accordance with their Code of Conduct as it relates to potential for
conflict of interest, pursuant to the Municipal Conduct Act 2022.
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8.0 INTERPRETATION
8.1 Land Use, Boundaries, and Roads
It is intended that the boundaries of the land use designations and location of roads and other
features shown on the Future Land Use Maps and the maps in the Development Regulations be
considered as approximate, as the available base mapping does not provide highly accurate
information. Therefore, amendments to the Municipal Plan or Development Regulations will not
be required to support reasonable interpretation by Council and staff concerning boundaries of
zones and areas. The intent and policies of the Plan are to guide the interpretation of the mapped
information.
Where feasible, the boundary lines of areas designated in this Municipal Plan are laid out to
follow lot boundaries and prominent physical features, including roadways and shorelines, and
shall be interpreted in that way. Where this does not apply, measurement from the maps and
relative location on the ground shall be considered.
8.2 Figures and Quantities Approximate
Some figures and quantities herein shall be considered as approximate. Amendments to the
Municipal Plan 2024 or Development Regulations 2024 will not be required for appropriate
interpretation of figures or quantities.
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APPENDIX SITE PLAN INFORMATION
When Site Plan approval is required, the owner or proponent shall prepare site development
plans, including any or all of the items listed below, according to the nature of the proposed
development and directions of Council:
(a)
the dimensions and area of the lot;
(b)
the features of buildings for water supply and treatment of sewage;
(c)
dimensions to indicate the location of all buildings;
(d)
dimensions of buildings to provide comprehensive information of their plan form,
including future buildings or expansions;
(e)
the distance between buildings and all yards;
(f)
other uses, a breakdown of floor area by proposed use;
(g)
gross floor area of buildings;
(h)
dimensions of all parking areas, access roads and driveways;
(i)
function and type of landscaped areas;
(j)
landscaping plan and specifications including;
- surface treatment (asphalt, grass etc.)
-
tree and shrub types and sizes
- location and number of trees to be retained or planted
- dimensions of buffer zones, driveways, etc.
-
number and size of parking spaces and location
- location and size of signage
- location and width of all walkways, footpaths
- location of loading zones
(k)
proposed contours and drainage of surface runoff ditching;
(I)
surrounding land uses;
(m)
NL Hydro, provincial highways, and Council streets right-of-ways on site or adjacent to
it, other easements for municipal infrastructure, and the means of satisfactorily
maintaining them;
(n)
location and intensity specifications for lighting;
(o)
location and use of outside storage areas;
(p)
perspective drawings and plans showing 4 point building elevations and 2-way cross
sections of buildings;
Page 72
0.1
Municipal Plan 2024, Town of Rocky Harbour
Approved by Council 12 August 2025
(a)
provisions for ongoing operation of features of the development which may involve
commitments or obligations of the Council of Rocky Harbour or its departments and
agencies.
Page 73
OKI
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P.M
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I, a Member of the Canadian Institute of MCIP Seal:
Planners, certify that this map for the
Municipal Plan document has been
prepared in accordance with the
requirements of the Urban and Rural
Planning Act, 2000
Jens Jensen, P.Eng. td, IP
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TOWN OF ROCKY HARBOUR
Dated at Rocky Harbour this 9 day of
A.D. 20
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or, Town of Rocky Harbour
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Clerk, Town of Rock y Harbour
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COUNCIL SEAL
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MUNICIPAL PLAN
FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATIONS
RURAL
WATER SUPPLY
MUNICIPAL PLANNING AREA BOUNDARY
OUTSIDE THE MUNICIPAL BOUNDARY
9
COUNCIL APPROVED
8
COUNCIL ADOPTED
7
RELEASED PER s.15 URPA
6
FOR s.15 URPA REVIEW
5
FOR COUNCIL REVIEW
4
FOR PUBLIC PRESENTATION
3
DRAFT 2 FOR COUNCIL REVIEW
2
DRAFT 1 FOR COUNCIL REVIEW
1
FOR TOWN REVIEW
12 AUG 2025
1 APR 2025
24 MAR 2025
24 JAN 2024
15 JAN 2024
4 DEC 2023
21 JUN 2023
2 MAY 2023
27 MAR 2023
TOWN OF
Rocky Harbour
MUNICIPAL PLANNING AREA BOUNDARY
& MUNICIPAL BOUNDARY COINCIDE
COORDINATE SYSTEM: NAD1983 CRS MTM 3
MUNICIPAL PLAN
FUTURE LAND USE
2024
MAP 1