ST. BRIEUX — Residents of St. Brieux will have an additional step in their building process following the town council passing their building bylaw.
Building permits will now be required for construction projects in the town.
Following years of work to develop the bylaw, the St. Brieux town council was eager to pass the new bylaw during their regular council meeting on Sept. 15 following a public hearing. Hind-Hluchaniuk said there were some inquiries regarding the new bylaw regarding how it will work but no immediate concerns from residents.
“It was a process of contacting other communities that have [building permits] and seeing how it would apply to our community, because we're not a city, so we have to make it applicable to the size of our town and the industry that happens here,” said Heather Hind-Hluchaniuk, the town’s administrator.
Construction around the town has increased and building rules and regulations have changed over the last three years that Hind-Hluchaniuk started her position, she said.
All of St. Brieux’s industries have had significant building projects since that time, as well as residential property improvements like decks and garages.
Before introducing the building bylaw St. Brieux residents still had to have projects approved through a development permit and the town zoning bylaw. Those requirements will remain in place moving forward.
“You have to apply for your development permit first to make sure the zoning bylaws and the once your development permit is approved, then your building permit is looked at. You have to abide by the zoning bylaw first and then your building,” Hind-Hluchaniuk said.
The town will not be charging additional fees for the building permit, however, part of the requirement for the permit does include a consultation with a building inspector before the permit is approved, Hind-Hluchaniuk said. Building inspectors will charge a fee.
