Common Council approving, with conditions, “The Crossing” development.
Mayor Mel Norton says the approval is, in many ways, a show of good faith.
Norton says it’s a partnership between a developer who’s already invested a lot into the project and a city that wants to see growth and development.
Horizon Management will now be required to conduct a number of studies within the next five years, which include an environmental impact assessment and studies on storm water management, traffic and whether the existing city services would have to be upgraded.
The results of these studies will determine whether or not the development on Ashburn Road and Highway 1 has a realistic future in Saint John.
Gerry Lowe and Donna Reardon were the only councillors who voted against the development.
Lowe is also on the Planning Advisory Committee and says he likes the commercial aspect of the project, but not the residential.
Common Council approved City Staff’s recommendation, including the residential component rejected by Planning Advisory Committee.
Donna Reardon voted against the development due to a lack of information.
Reardon says the residential component has the potential to undermine attempts to get people to live in core areas of the city.
Common Council approving the land re-zoning with the stipulation that Horizon Management gets the required studies done within the next five years.
