Pulp mill's parking-lot plan a source of worry in leadup to Saint John council vote
Company says it still owns the land, and a parking lot is part of project that will boost local economy
An Irving Pulp and Paper plan to turn part of Wolastoq Park into a parking lot still awaits a city decision, and residents are urging councillors to consider the impact of the project before they cast their votes.
For residents Sara Stashick and David Ryan, concerns about traffic safety at nearby Simms Corner — locally notorious for its complications — are top of mind.
"The introduction of hundreds of personal vehicles into an intersection that's already a nightmare to navigate, whether you're in a vehicle or on foot or on a bicycle, is a significant concern to me," Stashick said in an interview.
The pulp mill's proposal to convert 30 per cent of the park into a 500-space parking lot came before council this week, but the issue was not resolved before the 11 p.m. scheduled end of the regular meeting.
Council will hear more speakers on the proposal on Feb. 24, then vote on it.
Irving wants the parking lot for workers who will be needed for the mill's $1.1 billion plan to replace its recovery boiler and increase pulp output. While J.D. Irving Ltd. owns the land, the company proposal requires a zoning change.
The mill's proposal has drawn criticism since being announced in October, and City of Saint John are opposed to it.
J.D. Irving Ltd. bought the land overlooking Reversing Falls in 1998. The site was previously home to a psychiatric hospital.
The company's purchase agreement with the province stipulated that the land was to be converted into a park until it found an alternative use for it — one that would be good for the local and provincial economy.
Company predicts gains for economy
Appearing before council this week, Mark Mosher, the mill's vice-president, reminded the city of the agreement and the fact the company still owns the land.
He said the mill upgrade would bring a sizeable economic boost to the city and the province through tax revenue and job creation.
But parking space is needed for the 200 people who will work on the project and to make up for the roughly 350 spots on the mill site that will be lost to the upgrades, he said.
Stashick, who also addressed council, isn't convinced that 30 per cent of the park will be needed to accommodate those workers and believes what will be left won't be usable park space.
"Everybody who's familiar with this park knows that there's a pretty steep drop-off on three sides of the park," she said.
"Even staff have said that if this parking lot is approved, the park will no longer function as a park or a buffer between heavy industry and the adjacent residential community."
Shuttle-bus alternative rejected
Stashick suggested the company use shuttle buses — which the company already does for some staff. Mosher rejected this idea, saying it would deter employee recruitment.
Resident David Ryan said he appreciates the employment Irving brings to the city, but he wants council to vote down the proposal, saying the safety concerns at Simms Corner should be taken seriously.
"There's people that have to walk, and they try to get across the intersections," he said.
"If you're on a bicycle, it's a crap shoot through Simms Corner. I've actually been knocked off a bicycle there years ago —- it really is a dangerous intersection."
Ryan said the decision is ultimately up to council members, but wide city benefits and the safety of the public should be the priority.
"I think it's important for councillors to remember it's not their role to make the recruitment of a temporary workforce easier on any particular employer in this community," Stashick said.
"It's the business's problem to do that."
The parking lot proposal also has supporters, including trade groups and unions, the city's Chamber of Commerce and the company's staff.
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