SACKVILLE, N.B. – It was a full house in council chambers Monday night as residents on both sides of the debate came to speak out on a proposed 36-unit luxury seniors’ development for the former United Church property in downtown Sackville.
Many voiced their opposition to the project during Monday’s public hearing while others expressed support for the proposal, giving councillors lots to consider as they prepare to make a final decision on the requested rezoning, likely next month.
The loss of a valued green space as well as the potential for increased traffic congestion in the York/Main Street area were among the top concerns raised, while those in favour of the project spoke of their excitement over a seniors’ development of this kind as well as the added tax revenue it will bring to the town.
What also remained clear throughout the discussions was the lingering resentment that continues to this day in the community over the demolition of the United Church nearly three years ago.
Meredith Fisher, who opposes the proposed rezoning, was one of dozens of residents who campaigned to save the church back then and remembers the bitter divisions that were created over that issue. She cautioned council to be thoughtful of that when making the decision.
“Those feelings still linger on, we don’t want our town to be divisive,” she said.
Sackville resident Eric Tusz-King argued, however, that it’s perhaps time to move forward and not let those emotions rule this decision. Tusz-King, a member of the United Church congregation who was involved in the negotiations with the developers during the sale of the property, said the congregation was heartbroken when they had to make the tough decision to sell.
“But we realized that nothing stays the same and we needed to move on and I think that’s a little bit of what needs to happen in this conversation as well,” he said.
Town needs to protect its treasured green spaces
Fisher was one of many residents asking council to turn down the rezoning request. She said that although she understands development and tax revenue are important to Sackville’s future, so is protecting “what makes it so special.” That is what attracts people to live and work here, she added.
She said it’s also important to preserve the “magnificent stand of beautiful trees” and the green space above the swan pond, a space the town is lucky to have.
“I just can’t imagine how a community would support the decimation of this beautiful, iconic, signature space in our town.”
She also expressed her dismay over the size of the proposed structure, saying the density is getting too high on that property, which already houses two other commercial/apartment buildings.
“I just find the idea of a really large building in that space really unfortunate.”
Erna Duchemin agreed with Fisher, saying the new apartment building will destroy the beauty and serenity of the green space, a move that could deter people from coming to Sackville for that reason.
She also spoke about the added traffic flow on the property, saying it would increase on an already-congested site.
“We need to look ahead and think of the problems this building will cause.”
Duchemin also pointed out that the new building would be sandwiched between two apartments filled with university students.
“If seniors are thinking this is a prime location, they should think twice.”
Kevin Tory said although there is a need for senior apartments in Sackville, he believes there are better locations that could be chosen for this development.
“It just looms over such a beautiful spot.”
Tory also feels the size of the building doesn’t fit into the town’s character, and is hopeful that if council rejects this rezoning request that the Laffords would be required to construct something smaller.
“If we can make it less oversized, we can preserve a little bit of ambiance and save what the town has.”
Proposed development could be a draw for seniors
But other residents say they are excited about the prospective development, saying they believe it will be a great drawing card at a time when the senior population in the Maritimes is on the rise.
“I think the more senior units we have, the better,” said Ardyth Rose, who moved to Sackville five years ago.
Rose, who lives in one of the Laffords’ newest senior residences on Waterfowl Lane, called the Laffords wonderful landlords, saying they take very good care of their properties and buildings.
“They’re not boxes, they’re very well designed and the landscaping is beautiful.”
Wayne Harper isn’t a tenant of the Laffords yet, but hopes to be. Harper said he plans to move into one of the new senior residences proposed for downtown Sackville and is excited about the beautiful view it will provide as well as the tax revenue it will generate. He believes a proposal like this will bring more seniors to Sackville to retire.
“I think we need to have a complex like this to attract people here.”
Keith Carter also spoke in favour of the proposal, saying the Laffords are coming up with a nice development for their property. He also suggested that if anyone had other ideas for the site, they should have bought the property when it was up for sale.
Tusz-King feels many of the arguments against the proposal don’t hold a lot of weight. The birch trees people are calling for to be saved have a limited lifespan anyway and won’t be there forever, he said, while also pointing out that the Laffords have promised to replant other trees around the development. He also noted that while the current parking lot that sits on the site is certainly busy, it’s not overly so. He uses it daily and is not concerned about the level of density there.
“The area is not nearly as dense as it is in larger cities such as Halifax or Toronto.”
A number of written comments were also received by the planning commission, with five letters in support of the rezoning while three were submitted opposing it.
Developer pledges to replant trees
The proposed rezoning request from JN Lafford is asking for a portion of the former United Church property to be rezoned from Institutional to Mixed Use. It’s a piece of property that wasn’t rezoned at the same time as the rest of the property when it was sold to the Laffords in 2012 because the boundaries were still being determined at the time,
The rezoning would allow the Laffords to move ahead with their plans for the seniors’ complex, a three-storey building featuring both one and two-bedroom units ranging in size from 960 to 1,300 square feet. The proposal calls for balconies included on each unit, a shared fitness centre and recreation room, and underground parking.
Developer John Lafford, who was also on hand for the public hearing, said the project has been drawing a lot of interest from people over the past few months and he’s been hearing a lot from seniors who want to know more about this new building.
“We have a lot of people coming from the major centres who are excited about this,” he said.
He also pledged he would replant as many trees as would be cut down and pointed out that he plans to maintain a green space there for his tenants to enjoy, including keeping the Centennial monument in place.
“What we say, we’ll do.”
Situated a bit behind and in between the other two commercial/apartment buildings already on the former church site, some of the new units within the new v-shaped structure will overlook the Mount Allison swan pond and the Waterfowl Park.
“We’re going to create 36 homes there for people to enjoy that space,” said Lafford.
Lori Bickford, planning manager with the local planning commission office, said the proposed use fits within the town’s municipal plan to encourage mixed use development and to build a variety of housing options.
First reading of the rezoning was approved Monday night, sending the requested bylaw to the next stage.
But councillor Bill Evans pointed out that first reading doesn’t mean council is giving a stamp of approval on the rezoning, but is just moving the process forward.
“It doesn’t guarantee we won’t change our minds.”
Second and third reading are expected to come forward during council’s next regular monthly meeting on June 11.
