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Saint John Common Council

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Saint John OKs commercial rezoning for cemetery land despite housing concerns

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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.

Saint John City Sign_Alex Allan_Acadia Broadcasting

Saint John incentivizing large-scale development

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The City of Saint John is taking steps to encourage more large-scale development.

A new incentive program was adopted by Common Council this week that is expected to maximize high-rise development opportunities in the uptown and inner harbour area of the city.

The program is based on an incentive review study presented to the city’s growth committee in May.

According to Deputy Mayor John MacKenzie, the study looked at various building types to determine if the City should provide incentives.

“The key findings of this study were that mid-rise developments were already viable, but that high-rise development was not viable without additional support,” MacKenzie said.

MacKenzie said the new incentive program would target land in the uptown and Main Street area where the municipal plan directs the highest level of density.

A project must have a minimum of 150 units at a density of 400 units per hectare and a minimum building cost of $40 million to qualify.

The report to council said the program emphasizes predictability and certainty. A grant is divided evenly over a 10-year period, allowing lenders to recognize the subsidy as stable income for underwriting purposes, reduce risk and improve chances of high-rise projects going forward.

Ice Hockey Game With Copy Space

As hockey program grows, funding isn’t keeping up

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A non-profit organization giving underprivileged kids a chance to play hockey is having some financial trouble.

Top Corner Hockey was founded in 2012 by Chris Green.

Green spoke to Saint John council last week to explain the situation the organization is facing.

“The main thing I wanted to show here was our budget differences from 2012 to 2025,” Green said. “Our first year’s operating budget was about $5,000, which is bumped up to $30,000 last year.”

Green said the number of kids in the program has gone from 25 the first year to 60 to 70 now.

“None of our kids in our program pay a dime to be there,” Green said.

Green said costs for ice time have increased dramatically over the years, going from $1,600 the first year to $13,000 now.

“There are different factors in there,” he said. “We are renting more ice, fees have gone up.”

But Green said the grants the program relies on have not increased over time.

“The GNB grant in 2013 that was $5,000 is still $5,000 today,” he said. “So when we have an 800 per cent increase in our expenses over the last 13 years, the grants have not gone up.

“So, we are kind of, I don’t want to use the word at risk, but Top Corner is in trouble if this keeps climbing.”

Green said to run a bare-bones program, he needs $22,000.

“That just gets the kids to step on the ice,” he said. “That’s ice fees and insurance. That’s it. That’s not skate sharpening, that’s not hockey laces, that’s bare bones.”

He said along with the grants not increasing over time, some sponsors have started to move on.

Coun. Barry Ogden praised the work Green and the other volunteers have done.

“Anything we can do from my point of view, I would gladly help because you’re really answering a great need and sport is just so important to physical and mental health,” Ogden said.

Coun. Brent Harris asked about the possibility of fundraisers, but Green said there’s a problem with that avenue because of the family situations of some of the kids involved in the program.

“Right from the get-go I said I’m not going to march these kids around town fundraising,” he said. “That was out of the question.”

Green said any business or people interested in helping out should contact the Boys and Girls Club or reach out through Top Corner’s Facebook page.

Green’s presentation included an important comparison between this program and the traditional minor hockey programs in the city.

“I coach minor hockey as well,” he said. “And I will tell you this. The kids on my minor hockey team don’t run into the rink like they do on Saturday at Top Corner.

“The excitement is the same, it’s just a little bit of a different level. They get off the bus and they’re running.”

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Saint John councillor proposes improvements to Fort Howe, north end park

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A Saint John councillor has an idea to enhance tourism and improve local knowledge about the city’s cultural and Indigenous history.

At Monday’s meeting, Coun. Barry Ogden gave notice of a motion to ask city staff to investigate the possibility of changes to Fort Howe and reopening a wharf in the north end.

Ogden’s proposal includes four ideas.

First, the potential reopening of Rockland Road as a pedestrian pathway to the top of Fort Howe. This would include design considerations for accessibility, safety and interpretive elements.

Second, the creation of a commemorative site at Fort Howe recognizing the Friendship Treaties between the Crown and Wabanaki peoples. Ogden’s motion says the site would serve as a symbol of learning, respect and truth and reconciliation overlooking the city and harbour.

Next, examine the feasibility of reopening the wharf at Robertson’s Square on Bridge Street for use by the riverboat from Saint John Marina, including necessary infrastructure assessments and potential partnerships.

Finally, the possibility of extending tram service from the cruise ship terminals to Robertson’s Square to facilitate riverboat connections and enhance visitor experiences.

“Saint John’s Old North End holds deep historical and cultural significance, being one of the earliest settled areas in the city and home to Fort Howe National Historic Site,” Ogden’s proposed motion states. “This area provides a unique opportunity to blend heritage, education, reconciliation and tourism in ways that honour both the original inhabitants of this land and the city’s early settlers.”