The Town has approved a project by Ocean Choice International to develop new land by infilling 2.73ha (6.75 acres) at the west end of Long Pond, Conception Bay South. The development includes a 90-metre finger pier extending to the north from infilled land. Ocean Choice has noted that a cold storage facility and office building may be built on the infilled land in the future. Ocean Choice first approached Council in 2013 with a proposal to construct a facility in Long Pond, and purchased the property from the Long Pond Harbour Authority in 2018. Stay up-to-date on this project here, or by visiting Ocean Choice’s website.

Status Update on Project

• Council approved the project on June 29, 2021.
• An appeal was then filed against Council’s development approval to the Eastern Newfoundland Regional Appeal Board (Board).
• The Board convened a hearing on October 20, 2021 and issued a written decision that confirmed Council had authority to approve the development and that the approval was considered and issued in compliance with provincial law and regulations along with Town policies and regulations.
• The Town issued a construction permit to Ocean Choice on November 2, 2021.
• On November 3, 2021, an appeal was filed against the issuance of the construction permit to the Board.
• The Board scheduled a hearing for January 13, 2022 to decide the appeal.
• On January 12, 2022, the appellant withdrew their appeal of the construction permit.
• The construction permit is valid and Ocean Choice has the right to commence work on the project. 

Status Update on Regulations

Following a hearing of the Eastern Newfoundland Regional Appeal Board on January 27, 2021 there was uncertainty over the Town’s authority to regulate certain developments in Long Pond. This uncertainty prevented the Town from being able to issue permits for new residential or commercial developments. Council requested clarification from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador by means of amending the Town’s Municipal Planning Area Order.

On June 10, 2021, the Minister added the Long Pond Harbour area to the Town’s Municipal Planning Area and made an Order to bring the Conception Bay South Municipal Planning Area under authority of the Interim Development Regulations, 2003.  On January 13, 2022, the Minister clarified this Order by retroactively ordering that the Interim Development Regulations, 2003 apply only to the Long Pond Harbour area.

To learn more please visit Municipal Plan & Development Regulations.

For Further Information

Additional documents related to this file have been released through access to information requests. The results of those requests are available at: https://www.conceptionbaysouth.ca/council/access-to-information/