Millennium Drive: a developing concern
Election Once new councils are in place, a decision to investigate almagamating Rothesay and Quispamsis could soon follow
Thursday May 8th, 2008
C8
JOSH O'KANE
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
Noel Chenier/Telegraph-Journal
Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop stands on a portion of Millennium Drive that has been the centre of attention on more than one occasion.
QUISPAMSIS - What if all of Millennium Drive were in Quispamsis?
The undeveloped sections of the roadway that are currently located in Rothesay have been a hot spot for potential developers interested in bringing their businesses to the Kennebecasis Valley. As space for commercial development dwindles in the Valley region, many eyes are looking at this strip of land.
Wal-Mart has been turned away and a Shannex seniors' complex showed interest before settling on a location in Quispamsis.
Murray Driscoll and Beth Fitzpatrick are both vying for the position of mayor of Rothesay's neighbouring town of Quispamsis, which shares Millennium Drive with Rothesay. It has been established that the issue of amalgamating the two Kennebecasis Valley communities will be left for the new common councils to handle.
The winner of the mayoral race, then, will be a major player in the amalgamation decision.
If amalgamation were to occur, the newly combined community would contain all of Millennium Drive.
Driscoll, who is currently serving his second term as deputy mayor of Quispamsis, says there is no reason for business not to go on Millennium Drive.
"Millennium is zoned for business," says Driscoll.
"If it were to be amalgamated, whatever the zoning was, that's what I would recommend go there. If Wal-Mart wants to come to Quispamsis, come on in...(and) I would do that for an amalgamated Kennebecasis Valley."
The main issue for Driscoll is to do what is best for the community - whether it be Quispamsis, Rothesay or an amalgamation of both.
Before an amalgamation, however, he says that he would support a study analyzing the pros and cons of such a merger, followed by public consultation.
Therefore, says the deputy mayor, "If (Wal-Mart) is the best thing for us, let's do the study and find out."
In terms of disrupting nearby residents, Driscoll says amalgamation would need to be looked at first before addressing individual needs.
"I think it's a bit early in the game for us to address the needs of anyone, when we don't even know the benefits or non-benefits of amalgamation. I see us going no further at this time than having a study."
Opposing mayoral candidate Fitzpatrick says that her support would be weighted by the choice of the people, and that the taxpayers should ultimately be consulted before such a development.
She offers a skating rink as a potential development for the area.
"If taxpayers are happy with leaving it (undeveloped), or if they want to put a rink up there, then put a rink. Great, I'm for that."
Amalgamation would depend on the vote of the taxpayers, she says, and before that, co-operation between the communities is needed.
"I would like to see the two towns get along and see how that goes," says Fitzpatrick.
Bill Bishop is the current mayor of Rothesay and has been acclaimed to his position for another term after running unopposed.
He says Millennium Drive is a valuable piece of property, and it is going to be developed.
"It's a case of getting something that will fit the commercial nature (of Millennium Drive), and yet be kind to the residential aspect of the town," says Bishop.
Residents' concerns are at the forefront, he explains, as they are worried about the noise and light pollution as well as truck traffic. The land is not owned by Rothesay but the town has the ability to approve or deny potential development.
When the question of amalgamation was raised, Bishop said that Quispamsis has a different point of view towards commercial development than Rothesay.
"They seem to have less demands put on developers. I guess that's the word on the street."
He says that much of Quispamsis is not serviced by town water and sewage, which he would insist as necessary for development in Rothesay.
Bishop notes that "we would put a lot of thought to the concerns of residents in the area, as well."
If the two towns amalgamated, he says that there would definitely be a "different flavour of council," which could have a "whole different take on development. They may be pro-development, moreso than Rothesay."
The Rothesay mayor notes that at the moment, the town is in favour of commercial development but that it also wishes to respect its residential nature.
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