Saint John citizens' group urges council to reconsider developing Rockwood Park land

A group of concerned residents is urging Saint John councillors to rescind a February motion to declare a portion of the city's largest park as surplus land. 

"And restore public trust," said Joan Pearce, representing members of Friends of Rockwood Park, at a Tuesday afternoon growth committee meeting, "by committing to soliciting public opinion through a consultation for every decision that has the potential to impact the environment within the boundaries of Rockwood Park."  

And she isn't the only one opposed to the development of the land.

Since council members voted in favour in February of declaring the 1671 Sandy Point Rd. portion of land as surplus, the city has received more than 50 letters from residents, community groups and non-profits. Most of the letters are in opposition to the property being labelled as surplus.

Declaring the five-hectare property as surplus would allow it to be sold for housing development.

Joan Pearce spoke to the city's growth committee on behalf of Friends of Rockwood Park and urged council members to rescind the motion declaring 1671 Sandy Point Rd. as surplus. (Nipun Tiawri/CBC)

Pearce said considering the area for development carries the risk of environmental impacts, loss of parkland for public use and other potential problems. 

"Let's enhance this parcel for public use and bring in partners, be they local cycling or runners clubs or federal agencies like Parks Canada, to help make it happen," she said.

"Please do not let a rush to build houses and a tax base whittle away at the edges of parks that future residents and future generations will need," she said in her presentation.

This is not the first time the property has been at the centre of controversy. The last time the area was considered for development was 2018, when it met with similar public outcry.

Pearce also requested in her presentation that council develop a long-term plan for the preservation of the area, potentially designating the whole park as a conservation area and developing a plan for 1671 Sandy Point Rd.

'No meaningful discussion'

Part of Pearce's presentation aimed criticism at what she called a "lack of transparency," saying the public was not given a meaningful opportunity to discuss the item. She also pointed out that three officials — councillors Brent Harris and Joanna Killen and Mayor Donna Reardon — were not present during the February vote. 

"We believe that the current council and those before it have not been transparent to the citizens over the future use of these Rockwood Park properties," Pearce said to the committee.

"Multiple times in the past, the city has attempted to develop and sell this particular parcel of land and then has given up due to significant opposition."

The city wants to declare this five-hectare property, highlighted in green, surplus so it can be sold and used for housing. (Province of New Brunswick)

Pearce criticized what she called little public notice or opportunity for public discussion, saying the item was not on the agenda until the start of the regularly scheduled meeting.

"We are frustrated that there was no meaningful discussion and nothing to indicate why the city considered this part of Rockwood Park to be surplus," she said.

"Nor has there been any detailed explanation about what surplus land means."

Saint John Deputy Mayor John MacKenzie said there was 'nothing non-transparent' about the process. (City of Saint John)

Deputy Mayor John MacKenzie, who chairs the growth committee, said council followed the standard process for all items that come before council and committees. 

"We bring them in and they talk and we'll bring staff back and they will talk, and then if anything goes forward, we've still got to go through the [planning advisory committee], we've still got to go through council," MacKenzie said.

"So there's all kinds of public opportunities here. There's nothing non-transparent about it. It was a process that we follow for all of the things that go through the committee."

Residents want motion rescinded

Saint John residents Trevor Fotheringham and Dawn Robichaud were also in council chambers during Pearce's presentation and are associated with the Rockwood Park group.

Fotheringham, who volunteers in the park, said he hopes the land "will stay park areas and there won't be any further development."

Trevor Fotheringham came to the committee meeting as a part of Friends of Rockwood Park and hopes to see the motion rescinded. (Nipun Tiwari/CBC)

Robichaud agrees and hopes the whole park is protected as a conservation area.

"I hope they'll go back to council now and the council will rescind the motion and that they will move forward, where they cover all of Rockwood Park so it's all protected so every three, four or five years we don't have to come back and do this same fight," she said.

Dawn Robichaud once lived near the park and hopes all of it is turned into designated conservation space so that controversy isn't opened up over developing it every few years. (Nipun Tiwari/CBC)

MacKenzie said the next steps will involve city staff bringing another report to the growth committee, although he doesn't anticipate that will happen in the near future.

After that, MacKenzie said it will be in council's hands.