A planned live lobster holding facility in Chamcook is facing pushback from residents who live in the mainly residential area.
Sitansisk (St. Mary’s) First Nation is seeking a variance to build a 7,000-square-foot facility off St. Andrews North Road.
The proposed facility would hold up to 80,000 pounds of lobster that would be destined for market.
The Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission initially approved the application in October 2022.
But it faced an appeal to the province’s Assessment and Planning Appeal Board, which sent the matter back to Saint Andrews’ planning advisory committee.
Committee members held a public meeting Monday night, where, more than a dozen residents spoke out against the project, concerned about compatibility, traffic safety, poor road conditions, noise and odour.
“I am not saying that this proposal is without merit. What I’m saying is we’re trying to put a square peg in a round hole. This is just the wrong place for it,” said resident Ken Waiwood.
Waiwood said a project like this would be a better fit in the industrial park in Saint Andrews.
Brenda Waiwood said the application should be put on hold until a review of the area’s municipal plan is complete.
Sitansisk Chief Allan Polchies, who also spoke during the hearing, said he did not hear “one positive remark” about the project.
Polchies said they want to have a partnership that will benefit both his community and the Saint Andrews area.
“We just want to move forward and be able to bring opportunity to our people and to your people,” said Polchies.
Planning advisory committee members voted to table the matter until March.
