Saint John industrial park plan needs 'more conversation,' planning committee says

After hearing Lorneville residents identify their concerns about a controversial industrial park expansion in Saint John, the city's planning advisory committee decided Tuesday night that the proposal needs "more conversation."

At the end of the meeting lasting nearly four hours, committee member Phil Comeau commended the 30 or so residents who attended, including those who made impassioned objections to the Spruce Lake Industrial Park expansion.

"I think we heard a lot of stuff tonight … I'm not prepared to vote with staff recommendations right now, and I'm not prepared to vote against staff recommendations."

Comeau put forward a successful motion to make no recommendation and encouraged city staff to meet with residents who live near the plant in the southwest part of the city.

The advisory committee meeting was the latest step in efforts to make hundreds of hectares in the area "pad ready" for heavy industrial development. 

The nine people who spoke for residents expressed concerns about the impact of the expansion on air, noise, water and quality of life.

Some also said the environmental impact assessment process being carried out for the city and province by Dillon Consulting has been rushed.

The planning advisory committee can vote to recommend council proceed with or reject a proposal or, as it did in this case, it can vote to make no recommendation.

The project will get a public hearing Nov. 12  before Saint John council, but the planning committee motion didn't specify a time frame for allowing more time for discussion of the project with residents.

City proposes increased buffer zone 

Residents first became aware of the expansion plans in July.

In a month-long consultation period since then, the city and province received hundreds of letters from residents and a petition opposed to the plans.

City staff prepared a report for the planning advisory committee to try to address resident concerns. The report said the city is proposing expanding the original 30-metre buffer zone between the development and residential areas to 150 metres. The buffer would be zoned for environmental protection. 

Mark Reade, the city planner who presented the report to the committee, said the city is also proposing a "community benefits program" for the Lorneville neighbourhood as part of the expansion.

"It could be a portion of land sales dedicated to a community fund that is then spent on community projects," he said.

"It's something that we've flagged for further investigation by city staff."

He did not provide details of benefits when asked by the committee. 

Other changes in the proposed plan would require that rezoning include risk assessments as part of the approval process for hazardous industrial uses, and a groundwater-monitoring program within the proposed area. 

The city is also proposing a prohibition on use for a scrap and salvage yard to address concerns an American Iron & Metal scrapyard might be put near the Lorneville community. 

Reade said there also needs to be discussion. 

"I think both parties have to have the flexibility and time to have the discussion," Reade said. 

Jeff Cyr, the Envision Saint John executive director, spoke in favour of the expansion proposal, saying the site is ideal because of its size and what it can offer prospective businesses. The city is seeing a significant uptake in interest for industrial space, he said. 

Cyr would not reveal any interested parties, citing confidentiality.

Residents say buffer increase isn't enough

Community members who spoke showed indignation, frustration and, in some cases, tears. 

More than one said they are not against growth or development but against any negative impacts of the project.  

Resident Adam Wilkins said he was pleased with the committee's attempts to listen to community concerns and hopes community members can meet with staff to work out potential solutions.

He doesn't want the process rushed. 

"If things can be slowed down in all of these steps and checks and balances can be done with meaningful discussion … then that is a good outcome," Wilkins said.

"It's still incumbent on council to actually vote to take this step."

Another resident, Sherri Colwell-McCavour, also appreciated the attempts at more openness but said she is concerned about the timeline. 

"I just don't understand how this is going to be done in one month, " she said.

"I am all for sitting down and meeting with the city and for them to hear our concerns and our understanding of this, but we'll see what happens."

Colwell-McCavour said a 150-metre buffer is not adequate. 

"The fact [is] that putting any sort of heavy industry into our backyards is going to detrimentally impact our health, our mental wellness, and our ability to enjoy our properties," she said. 

Wilkins said the proposed changes to the plan in response to the community were a step in the right direction.

"Is it enough? No.

"If you're going to clear all the land and put in a gravel pad, but what goes there in the end requires a larger buffer, you can't put the trees back. That change is an improvement for sure, but it needs to be much better or much bigger."