Industrial park expansion in Saint John clears final reading at council
Spruce Lake project's environmental impact assessment is still being reviewed by province
A plan to expand the industrial park on the southwestern edge of Saint John cleared its final city council hurdle Monday night, when it was given unanimous third reading.
Some residents of Lorneville were present for the vote on the rezoning needed to expand the Spruce Lake Industrial Park in their rural area.
The residents had been represented in full force at earlier stages of the rezoning process, when many in the community expressed opposition. On Monday there was no discussion, and the residents quietly left the chamber after council voted.
Resident Leah Alexander said in an interview that the community feels deflated by council's unanimous support for the plan, especially the support from those representing Ward 1, which includes Lorneville. Joanna Killen and Greg Norton are the councillors for Ward 1.
"It was hurtful," Alexander said. "Like we were hurt that even the people that are supposed to support our area are still voting for this."
The city wants to make hundreds of hectares in the area "pad ready" for industrial development to help fuel economic growth.
The city has said it will try to attract medium and light industry that's clean and non-emitting, but the Spruce Lake industrial zone adopted Monday allows for limited heavy industrial uses as well, subject to risk assessments.
Councillors voted unanimously on June 16 to give the project first and second reading. This was after 75 people spoke in front of councillors, urging them to vote to kill or delay the city-led proposal because of the potential impact on the natural environment and the community's quality of life.
A vote was delayed for several meetings because so many people wanted to speak at the public hearing. Three people spoke in support of the plan.
The Spruce Lake plan was introduced in July 2024. The opposition included hundreds of letters to the city and province and a petition with over 4,000 signatures. The plan received 15 letters in support, according to the city's June 16 council package.
Ian MacKinnon, executive director of Saint John Industrial Parks, a city-owned non-profit business group, attended the Monday meeting and said the expansion will bring "enormous economic benefit."
"There's going to be construction jobs, there's going to be operational jobs ongoing, we're going to create a tax base that's ongoing for the city," he said in an interview.
The staff recommendation includes an item that future developments in the park provide financing for community projects.
MacKinnon said his group would work with the community to map out what community benefits could look like but it was too soon to elaborate.
"I think there's an opportunity ongoing for further community engagement as we figure out what a development looks like, how to lessen the impact on the community and what the benefits might be as a result of that," he said.
Alexander said she wants to see potential community benefits as a positive outcome. But she has doubts, saying the city and community had "task force" meetings, where resident questions about future developments went unanswered.
MacKinnon has previously said the city received letters of intent for the area to build what he called a "green manufacturing project" and a data centre. He said he wasn't allowed to name the interested companies but said both would be $1 billion projects that would create 700 jobs at peak construction.
"But that was not information that was ever made privy to us." Alexander said. "It kind of feels like it's one of those things, it's just going to be on paper to make it seem like they're engaging with the community and maybe hearing us but not listening to us."
Environmental assessment not approved yet
The province is reviewing an environmental impact assessment for the expansion that was submitted in June 2024.
The Department of Environment and Local Government did not respond to requests for an interview.
Vicky Lutes, a spokesperson for the Environment Department, said in a statement that the assessment process was being followed, and "no decision would be made until all the relevant technical issues identified by the community, the technical review committee and First Nations had been addressed." She did not elaborate on any concerns.
Lutes also did not address questions about potential timelines for a decision.
CBC News contacted the Wolastoqey Nation of New Brunswick, the technical advisory body for the six Wolastoqey communities, Mi'gmawe'l Tplu'taqnn Inc., a non-profit made up of nine Mi'kmaw communities in New Brunswick, and the office of the Peskotomuhkati Nation's chief.
A spokesperson for the Wolastoqey group said in a statement the province and project contractor got in touch with Wolastoqey leaders, but the consultation process has not been completed.
The statement said Wolastoqey communities expect the province to continue conversations about the project's impact and expects treaty rights to be respected through every stage.
The Mi'kmaw group and the Peskotomuhkati's chief's office did not respond.
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