Pulp mill parking lot proposal referred to Saint John advisory committee following opposition

A proposal from Irving Pulp & Paper Ltd. to build a parking lot on part of what is now the west Saint John Wolastoq park has been referred to the city's planning advisory committee amid opposition from local residents. 

Council members made the decision Tuesday evening. 

A report from city staff offered two options: to refer the proposal to the planning advisory committee for a report and recommendation with a public hearing to be held on a later date; or to deny the application. 

The proposal can't proceed without a zoning amendment. It was brought to council in early October, launching a 30-day review period during which residents could send written feedback. 

Several residents sent letters to the city objecting strongly to the project.

In the letters, which totalled more than 50 pages, people expressed concerns about the loss of green space and the area's historical significance. Some said they were also worried about the impact of increased traffic on the nearby notorious Simms Corner intersection. 

The mill and the parking project are both in Saint John's Ward 1.

One of the ward's councillors, Joanna Killen, said community concerns should be taken seriously. 

"It's a special place for a lot of people and hopefully we'll see a lot of them show up at the public hearing," she said.

"I'm really impressed with the organization of the public to come out so early in this process because it is early days and the public hearing probably won't be scheduled until next year."

Preserving green space

Wolastoq Park, overlooking the Reversing Falls Rapids, honours the Wolastoqey name for the St. John River. It includes  walking trails and statues that help tell the story of the area.

J. D. Irving Ltd. owns the land, on which it created the park 20 years ago, and now wants to use some of it for its $1.1-billion "NextGen" project.

The project will add a 20-storey boiler to increase pulp output without the need to buy power outside the plant. The company's website suggests the addition will double the number of workers at the mill during construction.

The site also states the park was chosen because it would "minimize disruption" to traffic and that roughly 70 per cent of the property will remain parkland. 

The proposed parking lot would add 500 parking stalls to the south-central portion of the park and a pedestrian overpass to connect the parking site to Mill Road. Access to the parking lot would be from Lancaster Avenue.

Greg Norton, a councillor serving the same ward, said the park's community value comes from its location and its use as a community space. 

"It's one of the very first things that you see coming off of a historical corridor and it's one of the first things that you see when you cross the Reversing Falls Bridge. Its proximity to industry certainly draws a contrast," he said. 

It's a place where people go to gather and meet and certainly enjoy not only the space, but some of the festivities that we have to offer in the community, such as fireworks."

Killen said she hopes residents will continue using their voices. 

"Keep reaching out to us and the city itself because this is part of the process that's very valuable to everybody to know what everyone's thinking about the various proposals in front of us," Killen said. 

Norton said he wants to see a "generous, participatory, objective" process play out once it is brought to the planning advisory committee.

"One that encourages both the proponent and the community to come together and at the end of the day create the best win, win scenario that we possibly can," he said.