The province gave its stamp of approval this week for a new land-use bylaw that will govern the iconic community of Peggys Cove.

According to the Department of Economic Development, the new bylaw aims to maintain the community as an “authentic, traditional fishing village”, while also allowing for enhanced commercial uses in the newly drawn zoning map. In doing so the Province and the Peggy’s Cove Commission who wrote the changes hope to allow businesses to better take advantage of the one million annual visitors Peggys Cove gets.

“It really gives people a better idea of what they can and can’t do with their land, the old bylaws hadn’t been updated in some time (since 2003), said Chester-St. Margaret’s MLA Danielle Barkhouse.

One of the most impactful changes is the creation of the new “core” zoning designation which allows for commercial, residential and community purposes. It is primarily utilized for properties along Peggys Point Road which leads to the lighthouse.

The new zoning for Peggys Cove, areas in red are part of the newly created “core” designation which allows homeowners to establish limited types of businesses from their homes. Photo: Peggy’s Cove Commission.

Prior to the creation of the “core” designation most of the properties along Peggys Point Road were designated as residential.

In the previous zoning designations for Peggys Cove, many of the yellow areas previously deemed residential have now been designated as “core” properties. Photo: Peggy’s Cove Commission.

While those changes may be concerning to people worried about preserving the essence of Peggys Cove as a small fishing village, MLA Barkhouse says the “core” zone has protections to prevent that. “You could see new businesses pop up in homes in the “core zone” but it’s only a percentage of each house that is allowed to be turned into a business, and then there are limits on how big you can build and other protections to ensure it’s identity is protected,”.

A table showing the new building requirements following the zoning changes. Photo: Peggy’s Cove Commission.

According to the bylaw acceptable businesses in dwellings in the “core” zones would be limited to:

•  Accommodations
•  Daycare centres
•  Offices
•  On-site preparation of food for off-site catering
•  Personal service shops
•  Repair shops, excluding automobile repair shops
•  Restaurant, take-out only
•  Studios for the practice or instruction of fine arts, commercial arts,
  or crafts
•  Tailoring and/or commercial sewing
•  Workshops

As part of updating the bylaws a new development officer will be appointed to oversee permitting and compliance.

The changes also prohibit street vendors from setting up within the “core” zones unless participating in a sanctioned event.