A 76-unit development being proposed in Saint John is facing pushback from nearby residents.
The five-storey building would be located at 1750 Sandy Point Road near Foster Thurston Drive.
Developers had initially proposed two 60-unit buildings on the site but decided to go with one 76-unit building instead.
About a dozen people who live near the site spoke out during a public hearing at council last week.
Dick Powell, who lives across the street, said there are more appropriate sites for this particular building.
“This is a very large building. It’s sitting on a parkade and will be effectively seven storeys high,” Powell told council.
“You can see the house next to it from the [Summerville-Millidgeville] ferry, so you’ll definitely see it.”
Other concerns raised by residents included traffic, storm drainage, and the number of trees that would have to be cut down.
Dr. Stephanie Avery-Gomm, who also spoke against it, said this project does not meet the needs of the community.
“It’s certainly not going to serve the ‘missing middle’ and I don’t think it’s going to really serve the affordable housing crisis, although I was happy to hear that 10 per cent are going to be affordable,” said Avery-Gomm.
Not everyone who spoke during Tuesday’s public hearing was opposed to the application, including Jeff Cyr.
The executive director of economic intelligence and real estate at Envision Saint John said this will help address the city’s housing shortage.
“One project may not help it, but we’re about 10 of these projects behind right now, so every one helps push us towards that goal of meeting housing supply,” said Cyr.
Council voted 5-3 in favour of the first and second reading of the rezoning, with Deputy Mayor John MacKenzie and councillors Barry Ogden and Gary Sullivan voting against.
The project still requires third reading, which is expected to happen at council’s next meeting.
