The normally empty chairs were half full during the April 27th session of Grand Bay-Westfield Council. Most of the residents there have concerns about a potential 560 home subdivision planned for above the highway at exit 80. They say they were disappointed but not surprised when council unanimously passed 1st and 2nd reading of the two by-laws. The Municipal Plan and Zoning By-law have nothing to do with approving the controversial ‘Woods of Westfield’ develoment but their passing is esential if this subdivision is going to proceed. The developer, Daryl Dibblee was also in the audence.

Before the vote a number of councilors took time to address the crowd to explain why they voted the way they did. Councilor David Calvin thanked the people for their involvement in this issue and reminded them that this was not a vote for approval of the project. He said it was much better that a development like this happens under the new municipal plan than the old one. He said the town can’t stand still and needs development and growth.

Deputy Mayor Tammy Archer said this decision was very difficult for her. She’s lived in the community for 40 years and understands the concerns. But she said she has to have faith in the system that she is part of. Archer said the community needs growth through sustainable development and she believes they’re doing the right thing.

Councilor Brenda Murphy said she shares many of the same concerns and it was a difficult decision for everyone on council. She said she’s sorry some people may be disappointed in them but she has to do what she feels is right.

Councilor Beverley Day read from a written statement detailing many of the same comments expressed by the other councilors. She said she doesn’t want this community to become a Quispamsis and to have sustainable development we need a vision to grow the community.

Councilor Diane McGowan said if she wasn’t on council she’d probably be sitting with the people in the audience who have concerns. But she added that under this plan all development will require sewage and that’s the best way to have it. McGowan also said she was offended that some people implied that council was in the pocket of the developer and would benefit in some way through this.

Mayor Grace Losier said that unlike other councilors, she hadn’t recieved many emails on this because her name was left off the list of people to contact that was circulated by opponents of the development. She questioned if this was an oversight or personal. Losier said she shares the same concerns over protection of drinking water and said council still works for the people in the community. She thanked council for their hard work dealing with this issue.

Opponents of the development who didn’t want the municipal plan and rezoning passed until all water and environmental testing at the site of the development was completed said they weren’t surprised by how council voted. They’ll be getting together soon to decide where they go from here.

LISTEN TO INTERVIEW WITH MAYOR GRACE LOSIER

LISTEN TO INTERVIEW WITH DEVELOPER, DARYL DIBBLEE

Not since the debate over building the Crane Mountain Landfill has an issue so ignited the people of Grand Bay-Westfield. Over a hundred concerned citizens turned out for the March 23rd public hearing into the new municipal plan and proposed zoning changes. That same evening, prior to the council session, many of the same people attended an information session presented by the developer of the proposed ‘Woods of Westfield’ subdivision. People are concerned about the impact this project may have on their water supply.

Saint John developer Daryl Dibblee is planning a 561 home subdivision on 850 acres he purchased above the highway at exit 80. In order for the project to proceed, the zoning of the area must be changed to allow for a mix of housing and commercial development along the highway. Under the municipal plan the developer is also responsible for providing sewerage to the subdivision. Dibblee attended the information session along with representatives of Fundy Engineering who are doing an Environmental Impact Assessment on the site. Plenty of questions were asked about the amount of water available in the area and plans for sewerage but few answers were forthcoming from the developer. Dibblee says they don’t have the answers yet because they haven’t completed all the studies. “We don’t see this going forward unless there are proper solutions to water and waste water,” says Dibblee. “We are working in conjunction with the town and with the Department of Environment as to where is the best solution for waste water treatment. We’ve done desk top studies now for water content and come the spring we’ll be doing our testing.” Dibblee says he wants to set up a committee with town people so they can be part of the process. He says now that he knows the concerns, he can address them. “I think we can satisfy the concerns of the citizens,” he says. “We are a citizen here as well.”

Frustrated by the lack of answers, the crowd made their way downstairs to the council meeting and public hearing. Council received five letters on the issue, one email and a petition containing 355 names. Fifteen presentations were made, all but one opposing the zoning changes in the municipal plan. One by one, residents stepped up to the microphone, asking questions and expressing their concerns over water supply, sewage treatment, lot sizes and wondering why this rezoning had to be done now, before all the environmental studies have been completed. Only the developer himself, Daryl Dibblee spoke in support of the project. He told council he wants to be a good citizen of the town and proposed the establishment of a liaison committee and a website to keep people informed.

A large turnout was there again for the April 14th council meeting, expecting to hear first and second reading of the municipal plan and zoning by-law. Instead, Councilor Bev Day made a motion to postpone the vote for two weeks. The town manager then read a 9-page report prepared by the Development Officer outlining the towns response to every one of the objections expressed by citizens at the public hearing. That report is available on the town’s website.

“We want the community with us, we’re not looking to be in opposition to our community,” says Mayor Grace Losier.  “We are attempting to give understanding to residents because there was a lot of inaccuracies and misconceptions about how it was proceeding, so we want the community to share in the same information that has led council to where each of us probably sits in respect to an opinion on the municipal plan.” Losier said the public can now take two weeks to digest the report and better understand where they’re coming from before the vote on the municipal plan at the April 27th session of council.

“The ‘Woods at Westfield’ and the municipal plan adoption are two very separate things,” says Losier. “We can’t say we’re supportive of the project because we don’t even have a tentative subdivision plan, no EIA and it requires further testing that can’t be done until June.”

When asked by a reporter why the zoning changes had to be passed now instead of waiting until after all the water testing was completed on the site, the mayor explained that this type of rezoning represents a substantial change to the municipal plan and would require another round of public hearings before it could be implemented.

Sue West, one of the people who made a presentation opposing the municipal plan and someone who has serious concerns about the ‘Woods of Westfield’ development, is not impressed with the two week delay by council and the report they passed out. “There is still a lot of misinformation about it,” says West. “Why was it postponed for just two weeks? We would have liked to see the vote postponed for two months so we have more time to contact the Department of Environment.” She said this housing development appears to be driving the municipal plan and not the other way around. West says they’re also disappointed that water analysis is being restricted to within a kilometer range of the housing development. “I expect it to pass first and second reading,” says West. “Council is becoming a huge disappointment to the people of Grand-Bay Westfield.”

Not since the debate over building the Crane Mountain Landfill has an issue so ignited the people of Grand Bay-Westfield. Over a hundred concerned citizens turned out for the March 23rd public hearing into the new municipal plan and proposed zoning changes. That same evening, prior to the council session, many of the same people attended an information session presented by the developer of the proposed ‘Woods of Westfield’ subdivision. People are concerned about the impact this project may have on their water supply.

Saint John developer Daryl Dibblee is planning a 561 home subdivision on 850 acres he purchased above the highway at exit 80. In order for the project to proceed, the zoning of the area must be changed to allow for a mix of housing and commercial development along the highway. Under the municipal plan the developer is also responsible for providing sewerage to the subdivision. Dibblee attended the information session along with representatives of Fundy Engineering who are doing an Environmental Impact Assessment on the site. Plenty of questions were asked about the amount of water available in the area and plans for sewerage but few answers were forthcoming from the developer. Dibblee says they don’t have the answers yet because they haven’t completed all the studies. “We don’t see this going forward unless there are proper solutions to water and waste water,” says Dibblee. “We are working in conjunction with the town and with the Department of Environment as to where is the best solution for waste water treatment. We’ve done desk top studies now for water content and come the spring we’ll be doing our testing.” Dibblee says he wants to set up a committee with town people so they can be part of the process. He says now that he knows the concerns, he can address them. “I think we can satisfy the concerns of the citizens,” he says. “We are a citizen here as well.”

Frustrated by the lack of answers, the crowd made their way downstairs to the council meeting and public hearing. Council received five letters on the issue, one email and a petition containing 355 names. Fifteen presentations were made, all but one opposing the zoning changes in the municipal plan. One by one, residents stepped up to the microphone, asking questions and expressing their concerns over water supply, sewage treatment, lot sizes and wondering why this rezoning had to be done now, before all the environmental studies have been completed. Only the developer himself, Daryl Dibblee spoke in support of the project. He told council he wants to be a good citizen of the town and proposed the establishment of a liaison committee and a website to keep people informed.

A large turnout was there again for the April 14th council meeting, expecting to hear first and second reading of the municipal plan and zoning by-law. Instead, Councilor Bev Day made a motion to postpone the vote for two weeks. The town manager then read a 9-page report prepared by the Development Officer outlining the towns response to every one of the objections expressed by citizens at the public hearing. That report is available on the town’s website.

“We want the community with us, we’re not looking to be in opposition to our community,” says Mayor Grace Losier.  “We are attempting to give understanding to residents because there was a lot of inaccuracies and misconceptions about how it was proceeding, so we want the community to share in the same information that has led council to where each of us probably sits in respect to an opinion on the municipal plan.” Losier said the public can now take two weeks to digest the report and better understand where they’re coming from before the vote on the municipal plan at the April 27th session of council.

“The ‘Woods at Westfield’ and the municipal plan adoption are two very separate things,” says Losier. “We can’t say we’re supportive of the project because we don’t even have a tentative subdivision plan, no EIA and it requires further testing that can’t be done until June.”

When asked by a reporter why the zoning changes had to be passed now instead of waiting until after all the water testing was completed on the site, the mayor explained that this type of rezoning represents a substantial change to the municipal plan and would require another round of public hearings before it could be implemented.

Sue West, one of the people who made a presentation opposing the municipal plan and someone who has serious concerns about the ‘Woods of Westfield’ development, is not impressed with the two week delay by council and the report they passed out. “There is still a lot of misinformation about it,” says West. “Why was it postponed for just two weeks? We would have liked to see the vote postponed for two months so we have more time to contact the Department of Environment.” She said this housing development appears to be driving the municipal plan and not the other way around. West says they’re also disappointed that water analysis is being restricted to within a kilometer range of the housing development. “I expect it to pass first and second reading,” says West. “Council is becoming a huge disappointment to the people of Grand-Bay Westfield.”

Due to publication deadlines we weren’t able to provide coverage of the  April 27th Council Meeting in this issue. Go to rivervalleynews.ca for more on this story including audio interviews with Mayor Losier and developer Daryl Dibblee.