Community groups are keeping a close eye on City Hall in North America's eastern-most city.
St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada is the aastern-most City in North America, and boasts itself to be the oldest, and has a population just over 100,000. The Downtown still retains much of its characteristics, which mostly date from the 1890's when much of the city was rebuilt after a fire. The current City Council's approach to planning is very much hands off, and they are now expected to approve a big box superstore on one of the few open spaces in the Downtown, thus harming the pedestrian character and adding more than 5,000 vehicle trips per day to the area. Local groups have organized to demand that the City follow its own municipal plan, which calls for planning of areas zoned "Public" to be developed in the best interests of the community at large.
Thanks to Sean Murray
FULL STORY: Fighting for the neighbourhood

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