Fredericton considers widening heritage lot size to prevent subdivides

Fredericton is looking at almost doubling the minimum lot width in a heritage preservation area after the subdivision of a Waterloo Row property in 2015 led to a bitter neighbourhood dispute.

The proposed restriction presented to city council on Tuesday would increase the minimum lot frontage to 35 metres from 18 metres for residential properties in the Saint Anne's Point Heritage Preservation Area.

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Changes to the municipal plan would also add a provision that would prohibit the creation of lots with less than 35 metres of frontage in the preservation area, which encompasses the east end of the downtown area and town plat between Beaverbook Street and the St. John River.

"The application is a result of neighbourhood concern over a proposed subdivision last year that would allow the construction of a new house with a contemporary design at 58 Waterloo Row," states the executive summary of a planning advisory committee report presented to city council.

Under the existing standards allowing a minimum of 18 metres of lot frontage, 12 new residential lots could potentially be created on residential properties in the preservation area, states the report.

The proposal drew people on both sides of the debate to Tuesday's city council meeting.

"I recognize the asset that the heritage area is to the city and to Waterloo Row," said Jacqueline Low, who lives on Waterloo Row and favours the proposal.

"It is an irreplaceable asset."

We have so few of those iconic neighbourhoods.- Jackie Webster, area resident

Jackie Webster, an area resident, said she also appreciates what the area means to the city.

"We have so few of those iconic neighbourhoods," she said.

"We should have more. They should be protected and cherished, not hampered and tampered with."

However, Eric Price, a developer, said he sees other problems with changing the bylaws.

"The ramifications of the option 1 proposal that went to PAC will affect the tax base of this city for years to come," he said.

The final decision won't be made by council for another two weeks.

Coun. Randy Dickinson is the only councillor to date to come out against more stringent subdivision bylaws for the area.