Part 1: Zoning Changes and Climate Action: What PEC’s Environmental Committee Is Planning - 7/4/2023

The Environmental Advisory Committee met on July 4, 2023, with the open portion livestreamed to the public. The meeting was held to continue the committee’s work on environmental planning, climate action, and policy review as it relates to the County.

The meeting opened with confirmation of the agenda, declarations of pecuniary interest, and approval of the previous meeting’s minutes. No conflicts were declared.

Early in the meeting, Paulina Szlachta, committee member, shared details about an upcoming county wide environmental event being organized by the West Lake Community Association. She explained that the event would take place on August 12 and would focus on invasive species, shoreline protection, and nature based climate solutions. Speakers would include representatives from Quinte Conservation, Sandbanks Provincial Park, Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the Invasive Species Centre.

Staff confirmed the County could help promote the event through its sustainability and communications channels, helping extend its reach to residents across Prince Edward County.

© PEC Council (YouTube)

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Zoning bylaw review and early concerns

A major portion of the meeting focused on the County wide zoning bylaw review, which is still in its early stages.

Albert Paschkowiak, Environmental Services and Sustainability Supervisor, explained that the goal of the new zoning bylaw is to create a clearer, more readable, and more consistent document. He noted that the County currently has thousands of special zones and that the new bylaw aims to consolidate many of them into standard zones.

Paschkowiak emphasized that not all property zoning will remain the same. Some properties may lose permissions if current zoning conflicts with the Official Plan, while others may gain new permitted uses. He explained that the full draft, expected later in the year, will clearly highlight proposed changes so property owners can understand how they may be affected.

Committee members discussed how important it will be for residents to review the draft carefully once it is released.

Environmental priorities within zoning

Committee members raised concerns that environmental considerations were not yet strong enough in the early zoning strategy materials.

Several members pointed to examples from other municipalities, especially Guelph, where zoning bylaws include clearer expectations around sustainability, parking reductions, and environmental performance. The discussion focused on whether environmental requirements should be built into zoning rules upfront rather than addressed later during site plan review.

Topics raised included urban agriculture, active transportation, bicycle parking, electric vehicle charging, permeable parking surfaces, and shade trees in parking areas. Members agreed that zoning plays a key role in shaping long term environmental outcomes and should reflect climate goals wherever possible.

Home based businesses and gentle density

The committee spent time discussing home based businesses and how zoning rules could better reflect modern work patterns.

Members questioned existing limits on floor space and employee numbers, noting that remote work has changed how homes are used. Concerns were raised about enforceability and whether overly strict rules discourage sustainable economic activity.

This conversation tied closely to broader themes of gentle density, walkable communities, and reducing unnecessary vehicle trips.

Setbacks, density, and land use flexibility

Another recurring topic was building setbacks, particularly in residential zones.

Committee members questioned why setbacks vary across zones and whether large setbacks unintentionally limit additional residential units. Paschkowiak explained that reducing setbacks can make it easier to add secondary and third units, which supports housing supply goals.

There was broad agreement that setbacks should support density and sustainability rather than create unnecessary barriers or costly rezoning processes.

Climate action planning direction

Later in the meeting, the committee revisited how it should approach developing a Climate Action Plan.

Members discussed whether this work should be handled by the full committee or by a smaller working group. The discussion highlighted the need to address both climate mitigation, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and climate adaptation, such as flood resilience and shoreline protection.

The committee agreed to request that the Clerk’s office develop terms of reference for a Climate Action Plan Working Group, with a clear focus on both mitigation and adaptation, while complementing existing staff led programs.

Climate event planning and work plan updates

The committee also discussed planning for a fall climate event, building on a similar event held previously. Members agreed the Communications Working Group should lead this work, with funding to be requested from the committee’s reserve.

The meeting wrapped up with updates to the committee’s work plan, including how tasks are tracked and coordinated with other working groups. Members emphasized the importance of regular reporting and keeping environmental priorities visible to Council.

Key Takeaways

1. The County’s zoning bylaw review could change what is permitted on some properties, making public review critical later this year. 

   
   

2. Environmental priorities like active transportation, EV readiness, and urban agriculture are being pushed early in the planning process. 

   
   

3. The committee is moving toward a more structured Climate Action Plan that includes both emissions reduction and climate adaptation.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:41:09. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.