Grand Bay-Westfield will finally have a major development on Colonel Nase Boulevard.
On Monday, council gave the go-ahead for the construction of four townhouse buildings.
Each of the buildings will have six units for a total of 24, according to a staff report to council.
Mayor Brittany Merrifield said seeing new developments like this is exciting for the town.
“It’s thrilling and it’s proof that this council is a change-making council,” Merrifield said during Monday’s meeting.
“The decisions we have made based on our priorities are starting to fan sparks of development and it looks like it’s turning into a full-blown fire, the good kind.”
Land along Colonel Nase Boulevard has remained largely vacant since it opened more than a decade ago.
In July, council voted to temporarily do away with the frontage fee of $451 per metre in an effort to drive development along the corridor.
At the time, Merrifield said there has been a perception in the community that the fees were partly to blame.
“It was mostly a perception, but it’s important for us as a town to let developers, to let commercial builders know that we are absolutely in favour and supportive of commercial and residential growth in our area and this is one way to send that message,” Merrifield said in an interview.
Coun. Jim Balcomb said Monday’s meeting was “probably the most fondest council session” he has attended since being sworn in.
“It’s all about growth, it’s all about getting more people to move to this wonderful town, but they need to have a place to stay. Developers have listened to what we’ve done with bylaw changes and taking off the frontage fees,” he said.
Council voted to remove the fees for a three-year period. Merrifield said the decision will be reconsidered at that time.
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