Public hearings are the focus of tonight's city council meeting.
Beginning at 7 p.m., council will hear from anyone wishing to speak to a variety of development projects seeking bylaw amendments for minor height or sidewalk requirements.
The team behind the renovations at College Heights Neighbourhood Pub is also coming before council with their application to have their liquor license changed so they can serve patrons in all areas of their newly renovated space.
Pub upgrades include interior renovations and additions to the southeast and east portion of building and the construction of a new patio along the southwest side.
The work leaves 85 square metres of the establishment unlicensed, which they are looking to add, without changing the hours of liquor service - 9 a.m. to midnight Sunday to Thursday and 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays - or the occupant load - 134 people inside and 20 on the patio.
"The proposed changes are not anticipated to negatively impact surrounding properties or the community," said a report from city planner Christie Basalle.
Residents will also have an opportunity to speak to coming changes to city policies.
City planner Jesse Dill will make a presentation on the proposed downtown development permit area guidelines to council. These guidelines are meant to steer the look and feel of new development to create an attractive and pedestrian-friendly downtown core.
Changes to city zoning bylaws are also up for debate as proposed tweaks to make a couple of bylaws "easier to interpret, implement and enforce" are due for third reading.
Among the changes are the definitions of major and minor community care facilities, which are being reworked to accommodate adjustments to licensed day care facilities.
Planning staff also want to change increase the allowable area of secondary suites and remove the requirement for a landowner to live on the property. This would allow both dwellings to be rental units.
"There is no significant evidence to suggest that a landowner living on site results in a better-maintained property," said the initial report to council.
At the Aug. 27 council meeting, councillors Brian Skakun, Murry Krause and Cameron Stolz expressed concerns over regulatory controls over these secondary suites and an inability to pin down just how many there are in the city.
Skakun said removing the requirement for the landlord to live on site might make it harder for tenants to get repairs done.
"We need to make sure people aren't living in substandard housing," he said.
