By Tyler Waugh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Witless Bay Town Council received 17 written submissions as part of the initial phase of public consultation in its Municipal Plan review process and formally adopted the public consultation report at its March 10 meeting.
Council reviewed all the submissions with the planning consultant contracted by the Town for the process and provided some direction.
However, the Town’s chief administrative officer, Jennifer Aspell, pointed out that the identities of everyone who made the submissions were redacted prior to bringing them to council. The redacted versions will be included in the public consultation report that will be posted on the Town’s website.
“Now the new (zoning) map and new draft plan is being developed based on all that and then we will go back to the public for the second round of consultation, which will be presenting the new draft report and the new zoning map,” Aspell said.
There is no timeline yet for when that work will be ready to bring back but the Town anticipates having the revised plan finished for submission to the Province sometime in 2026, she added.
One resident at the end of the public meeting asked if there would be any opportunities for residents to meet with the planner who is working with the Town to revise the plan. The resident was advised the Town is following a standard process for a municipal plan review, and direct consultations between residents and the planner are not something that is standard practice.
Deputy Mayor Justina Nawaz said the public call for written submissions in December 2025 was the first phase of that public engagement process and councillors act as a conduit for resident feedback. The Town promoted the written submission opportunity as much as possible, said Aspell, with general advertising in the newspaper, social media, the Town website and postings around Town, as well as direct communication with some community groups.
The resident suggested to council that it should go above and beyond to invite more public input earlier in the process, as opposed to waiting until the ‘cake was already baked’ and opportunities to affect the plan are limited.
Aspell disagreed, arguing that what will be presented to residents in the next phase of public consultation won’t be cake that is already baked.
“The hearing with the commissioner is an opportunity for residents and taxpayers and anybody else who has an interest in the municipal plan in town to attend and verbally make a contribution in front of council, and the planner will also be in attendance,” said Aspell.
She added that after that session, the commissioner provides a report to the Town with recommendations. Council then meets with the planner again and reviews the commissioner’s recommendations prior to coming up with a new plan.
“There’s still a fair bit of time for input, right?” said the CAO.
Aspell said the Town will promote upcoming public engagement opportunities once details are finalized.
Witless Bay’s last approved municipal plan spanned 2013 - 2023 and is posted on the Town website. Aspell said the process of reviewing the plan began around a year and a half ago and council has been meeting once a month for several hours to undertake a detailed review to understand the existing plan. New council members that just came on board in the fall have spent additional time to get caught up to their colleagues.
“This process is a lot of work,” Aspell said.
