CHARLOTTETOWN — Summerside City Council has rejected a controversial bylaw amendment that aimed to designate certain parts of the city as flood-risk areas. The decision followed strong public backlash, which necessitated moving the council meeting from its usual location to the Credit Union Place to accommodate the crowd of approximately 80 local residents.
The amendment was originally introduced as a measure to secure federal funding. However, its passage would have implemented new construction restrictions in coastal zones identified as prone to flooding.
Mayor Dan Kutcher voiced concerns that the legislative change would place an “unnecessary burden” on residents and stressed that it should not be enacted in haste. Residents participating in the meeting expressed significant apprehension that the new designation would lead to decreased property values and negatively affect property insurance, mortgages, and sales.
The Mayor stated that the issue is largely outside the Council’s direct jurisdiction and announced that the City Council currently has no plans for further bylaw amendments related to flood-risk mapping. Instead, Summerside will defer to the provincial and federal governments to handle these matters moving forward.
