01/19/2023
Urban and Rural Planning Act, 2000, SNL 2000, c U-8
Protected Road Zoning Regulations, CNLR 996/96
Gander River Protected Area Regulations, CNLR 767/96
Rural Conservation Zone
Code (RC)
Permitted Uses and Requirements:
Agricultural use
1. (1) Any agricultural operation may be permitted in a rural conservation zone, subject to the approval and conditions imposed by the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, the Department of Works, Services and Transportation, the Department of Environment and Labour and the authority.
(2) Developments shall, where possible, be screened from highway view to the satisfaction of the authority.
(3) A residential unit may only be erected in conjunction with an agricultural use in a rural conservation zone if the residence is subsidiary to the agricultural use, which must be a full time commercial operation as described by the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, and if the occupier of the residence is actively engaged in agricultural activity on the same parcel of land upon which the residence is proposed.
(4) Notwithstanding the above, a residential unit will only be permitted provided the farm development shows a demonstrated market to the satisfaction of the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods and has one or more of the following minimum operations:
(a) greenhouse production, permanent greenhouse structures of a minimum of 370 metres squared in operation with adequate land base for subsidiary cropping;
(b) root crops, 8 hectares of land with 4 hectares in production plus required ancillary buildings, adequate storage and cropping, washing and packaging equipment;
(c) strawberries, raspberries, 8 hectares of land with 3 hectares in production plus required ancillary buildings and cropping and handling equipment;
(d) livestock or poultry operations, provided the development is operational, the number of animal units is to a standard required by the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, and suitable structures designed to accommodate the livestock or poultry have been completed and the required land base is in production; and
(e) an equivalent combination of the above or other types of agriculture as approved by the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods.
(5) With the exception of residences and fruit and vegetable stands, which must conform to section 21, agricultural buildings shall be restricted to in excess of 90 metres from the highway centre line, unless mitigating factors require a somewhat lesser setback, in which case the discretion of the authority can be utilized.
Forestry use
2. (1) Any use directly associated with the harvesting of timber may be permitted in a rural conservation zone.
(2) Residences ancillary to the main use may conditionally be permitted in accordance with the requirements of section 21, while all other uses will be restricted to in excess of 90 metres from the highway centre line.
(3) Development shall, where possible, be screened from highway view to the satisfaction of the authority, and where excessive noise is generated it shall be located a minimum of 90 metres from any other development.
Fisheries use
3. (1) Any development associated directly with the harvesting of fish may be permitted in a rural conservation zone.
(2) Structures shall not be located within 45 metres of the highway centre line.
Mining and quarrying use
4. (1) Any development associated with mineral extraction may be permitted in a rural conservation zone.
(2) All developments of this nature shall be maintained at a distance of 90 metres from the highway centre line, and shall be screened from highway view to the satisfaction of the authority.
(3) Upon conclusion of operations all refuse shall be removed, rough landscaping carried out and all accesses removed.
Public recreation use
5. The following developments may be permitted in a rural conservation zone:
(a) provincial and municipal parks, these contain rest and camping parks, marinas, public conveniences and accessory buildings;
(b) recreational clubs, including golf courses, ski clubs, boating, swimming and those structures associated directly with recreational clubs and where essential, dwelling units and accessory buildings may be permitted;
(c) public rest parks, may include natural reserves, historical sites and monuments, scenic routes, viewpoints, picnic tables, fireplaces and public conveniences; and
(d) natural reserves, may only have scenic routes and viewpoints.
Commercial recreational uses
6. (1) Uses which, because of their nature and large land requirements, would not normally be compatible with urban uses of highway service centre developments may be permitted in this zone, including travel trailer parks, golf courses and driving ranges, ski slopes, recreational resorts, theme parks, including amusement parks, etc.
(2) Amusement parks must have a minimum of 3 attractions, i.e. bumper boats, go cart tracks, mini golf, etc.
(3) Developments in these classes shall be set back on minimum of 55 metres from the centre line of the highway, and adequate parking shall be provided.
101/96 s1
Rural industrial uses
7. (1) Only industrial developments which, because of their nature, would be considered hazardous and incompatible to urban uses will be permitted in this zone.
(2) Developments of a rural industrial nature shall be set back a minimum of 100 metres from the centre line of the highway with a tree screen of not less than 50 metres, and shall be separated from adjacent incompatible developments by a minimum of 150 metres with a tree screen of not less than 100 metres.
(3) Development located in these areas shall be so designed and located as to preserve the natural amenities of the area, and adequate parking, as prescribed by the authority, shall be provided.
Private recreational travel trailer parks
8. (1) Only travel trailers as defined in these regulations may be permitted in these areas.
(2) There shall be a minimum of 10 trailer lots in a park and a maximum of 100, and each trailer owner shall be assigned a specific lot.
(3) Lots shall be of a size approved by the Department of Health, and not inconsistent with lot sizes associated with commercial travel trailer parks or sites within provincial parks.
(4) Each park shall have adequate bathroom facilities, suitable children's playgrounds and a road network acceptable to the authority and any other concerned departments and waste disposal shall be as per conditions specified by the Department of Environment and Labour.
(5) Travel trailer lots shall be set back a minimum of 60 metres from the centre line of the highway, and adequate screening must be provided between the highway and all sites.
