Fernhill Cemetery

Saint John council has approved cemetery-owned land for commercial use.

A piece of underutilized land, owned by the Fernhill Cemetery, was approved by the council to be rezoned from park and natural areas to employment and commercial corridor on Monday’s meeting.

According to the cemetery’s representative and developer Rick Turner, Fernhill will not develop the property at 358 ½ Rothesay Avenue.

Instead, once it’s rezoned, it plans to sell it to a developer looking to build a commercial property.

Turner said Fernhill plans to put the sale proceeds toward upcoming capital projects.

“It’s a great application for the city and applicant because you got a street there with utilities, everything is there just begging for a building,” said Turner during the public meeting.

However, councilor Brent Harris questioned why the cemetery didn’t consider the land for housing, or mixed zoning, given the housing needs in the community.

Harris argued that the city has several vacant commercial buildings, while it still needs more residential developments.

Turner said that because the surrounding area is commercial, the cemetery felt rezoning for commercial use was the “natural way to go about it”.

City staff added that a standalone residential development wasn’t recommended because the area lacks components needed for a housing project to thrive.

However, staff said the commercial designation doesn’t prevent a future buyer from adding a residential component if they choose.