The Town of Bridgewater is asking residents to share their thoughts on a proposal that could bring more commercial buildings to some residential neighbourhoods. A public meeting is set for June 3 at 6:00 p.m. in the Committee Room at Town Hall, 60 Pleasant Street, where people can learn about the plan and have their say.
The idea is to change the rules so that commercial development could be allowed in parts of town currently zoned as Comprehensive Residential, or R3. As it stands, the R3 zone permits housing projects of up to 25 units per acre through a special approval process called a development agreement. The new proposal would expand that to also include commercial uses, meaning businesses could potentially move into areas that are now mostly homes.
This is the latest step in Bridgewater’s ongoing efforts to update its planning rules. Earlier this year, town council approved the rezoning of 283 properties from single-family to two-unit residential, a move aimed at gently increasing housing density. The commercial proposal fits into the town’s broader Inclusive Economic Growth Plan, a strategy running from 2022 to 2027 that seeks to attract business, grow housing supply, and boost investment.
Anyone interested in attending the June 3 meeting must register in advance. To sign up, contact the Community Development Department at 902-541-4371 or reach Sondra Brehaut. For more details on the proposal, people can get in touch with Planner I Evan Ferguson at 902-530-4081 or [email protected]. Additional information is also posted at www.bridgewater.ca/DA.
