[Moncton] Northwest/Magnetic Hill Developments

[Feneant]

I wasn't sure where to put this...

Is anyone aware if the city has considered removing the 2nd turning lane on Mapleton now that Costco is gone? It seems to me we'd be better off if the 2 right hand lanes were straight lanes with a single left turning lane onto Trinity. I imagine this is dependent on what will go to the Costco but every night between 3-6ish or so the right hand Mapleton lane is often backed up to the intersection at Montana's. This is problematic, especially for those turning left from Plaza onto Mapleton that have to then take the inside lane and try to squeeze into the outside lane.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by Feneant

I wasn't sure where to put this...

Is anyone aware if the city has considered removing the 2nd turning lane on Mapleton now that Costco is gone? It seems to me we'd be better off if the 2 right hand lanes were straight lanes with a single left turning lane onto Trinity. I imagine this is dependent on what will go to the Costco but every night between 3-6ish or so the right hand Mapleton lane is often backed up to the intersection at Montana's. This is problematic, especially for those turning left from Plaza onto Mapleton that have to then take the inside lane and try to squeeze into the outside lane.

I think it depends on what is going to go in the old Costco location, and potentially into the "soon to be vacant" Kent store location.

[MonctonRad]

Feneant is correct to question the continued need to have two left hand turning lanes northbound on Mapleton into Wheeler Park now that Costco is gone. It would be really easy to make the second lane northbound only.

You however are also correct that city planners wouldn't make any changes to the traffic pattern until it becomes clear what is going to happen to the old Costco site (they probably know already anyway).

Your comment about Kent is interesting. I know there is a rumour going about that Kent might relocate to the Day & Ross site further out by the TCH. I still don't know why Kent would want to do this, and I take this rumour with a fair modicum of salt as a result (meaning I don't really believe it).

Why would Kent want to move? Their current warehouse is large, not that old and ideally placed in one of the largest retail developments in the region. The only reason why they would instigate such a move on their own (IMHO) is if they wanted to build a mega warehouse store like they built in Dartmouth Crossing (which itself was a relocation from MicMac Mall). There were other variables in play in the HRM move however. Dartmouth Crossing is much more successful than MicMac Mall and I think Kent wanted to benefit from having a swanky new megastore next to IKEA. In addition, Irving Shipyard wanted to use the old store for logistics for their naval shipbuilding program. This all makes sense. Building a new mega-warehouse store in Moncton however makes no sense to me at all. I'm not sure our market justifies it.

The only reason I can think of as to why Kent might consider a relocation to Day & Ross is if an interested party wanted their current location and made them an offer "too good to refuse".

Let's look at this more carefully. The Kent location at Wheeler Park is quite large, and lies immediately adjacent to an even larger (and currently vacant) Costco lot. The two properties together could accommodate a truly massive retail or commercial development.

So, letting flights of fancy fly freely from my cranial vault, could it be that there is a massive development planned for Wheeler Park occupying both the Kent and Costco properties? This is possible (but purely speculative), but might explain why restaurants like Kelsey's and Milestone's are setting up in the neighbourhood, and might also explain why the remainder of Wheeler Park (and adjacent retail developments) are still at near 100% occupancy despite the loss of the leading anchor store in the retail precinct.

So, letting the genie entirely out of the bottle, given the fact that major casual restaurant chains are rapidly settling in the area, this implies to me an entertainment focus towards any potential (but again purely speculative) development project. I would wonder about a relocated Trinity Drive Cineplex (including an IMAX), as well as an adjacent Rec Room, possibly a Jack Astor's on a separate external pad by the entrance driveway and maybe a small retail plaza (on the old Kent location) containing a few new stores such as Aubainerie.

Again, purely speculative, but if Kent is thinking of moving, there's gotta be a reason why.............

This discussion really belongs in the retail thread, but I decided to post my musings here because of Feneant's justifiable speculations regarding traffic flow in the area.

I think I will re-post this in the retail thread. Feel free to dissect my musings.........

[MonctonRad]

M&M Meat Shops in the Lounsbury Centre is temporarily closed for renovation. It will reopen later this month as a new format M&M Food Market.

https://www.mmfoodmarket.com/en/new-shopping-experience

[Feneant]

Random question as I know a lot of you ATV. The trail next to the Impact Church that was rerouted to the other side of the new Medavie building, is that a permanent redirect or temporary during the construction? I've been trying to find an answer but I don't know where to look (although I just sent an email to the NB trails association to ask).

[L'homard]

[email protected]
Email Jacques he manages the NB ATV Federation and is very knowledgeable and accommodating. I doubt the trails association can help you.
My guess is that it's just a trail that local users beat down themselves, not an actual official trail.
The local club in that area is the Moncton Mudrunners and they have said on Facebook in no uncertain terms that it is not their trail, they didn't make it, they don't maintain it and do not sanction it. Thus my "guess" above that it's some locals who are using it as their means of getting to and fro.

[Feneant]

Thanks L'homard, I don't know how official it is but it was groomed a couple of nights ago and there are signs on the 'new' trail.

Also, I got it wrong, nbatving is who I Emailed to ask so I'll see what they say- it may be him

[L'homard]

Perhaps it is a snowmobile trail? Are they official signs or something drawn up by hand?
If they are real official signs, ie, metal printed signs, then yes indeed it is a managed trail, either snowmobile or atv but highly unlikely to be shared by both.
I hope that's helpful. I'm sure you'll hear from nbatving tomorrow.

[Ammn_guy]

I saw the groomer actually cross gorge rd it was almost new, very expensive piston bulley groomer(100k+) so someone is paying for that.. .

Originally Posted by L'homard

[email protected]
Email Jacques he manages the NB ATV Federation and is very knowledgeable and accommodating. I doubt the trails association can help you.
My guess is that it's just a trail that local users beat down themselves, not an actual official trail.
The local club in that area is the Moncton Mudrunners and they have said on Facebook in no uncertain terms that it is not their trail, they didn't make it, they don't maintain it and do not sanction it. Thus my "guess" above that it's some locals who are using it as their means of getting to and fro.

[Ammn_guy]

from facebook:

Moncton-St. Antoine Snowmobile Club #15
January 16 at 9:12 AM ·
Good morning! All trails, yes....you read that right...all trails in the Club #15 system that are open and active have been groomed over night. This includes #646 all the way to Magnetic Hill. **Please note that just East of Gorge Road this trail has been rerouted to pass through Crandall University's property (huge thanks to them!). On the West side of Gorge Road, it is also rerouted to skirt the construction on the new EMS building. It is very important that everyone STAYS ON THE MARKED TRAIL. This is not only to ensure continued use of this route but also for the safety of snowmobilers and construction workers alike.**

Originally Posted by Feneant

Random question as I know a lot of you ATV. The trail next to the Impact Church that was rerouted to the other side of the new Medavie building, is that a permanent redirect or temporary during the construction? I've been trying to find an answer but I don't know where to look (although I just sent an email to the NB trails association to ask).

[Feneant]

Thanks Ammn_guy, sounds like its temporary if that is the case.

[L'homard]

It's absolutely a snowmobile trail then, not an ATV trail. ATV clubs don't have new groomers. In fact, the Moncton ATV club hauls their grooming aparatus with a beat up old truck with a set of tracks on its wheels.
Gov't pours huge money into snowmobiling. ATVs? Not so much. LOL Personally I prefer that my favourite sport not suck off the public teat. But that's just me.
Feneant that message about grooming the trail sounds like anything BUT the trail being temporary. I hope that doesn't cause you any issues but if so you can find Club 15 on the web site of the NB Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, along with the contact person and phone number. They are a good bunch so don't hesitate to reach out to them if you need to.

[Manny2727]

Originally Posted by L'homard

It's absolutely a snowmobile trail then, not an ATV trail. ATV clubs don't have new groomers. In fact, the Moncton ATV club hauls their grooming aparatus with a beat up old truck with a set of tracks on its wheels.
Gov't pours huge money into snowmobiling. ATVs? Not so much. LOL Personally I prefer that my favourite sport not suck off the public teat. But that's just me.
Feneant that message about grooming the trail sounds like anything BUT the trail being temporary. I hope that doesn't cause you any issues but if so you can find Club 15 on the web site of the NB Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, along with the contact person and phone number. They are a good bunch so don't hesitate to reach out to them if you need to.

how true.. atv clubs can't afford the new machines as most of the budget on stuff like this goes to the snowmobile federation. yet in this area there's probably more side by side and atv's than snowmobile.

[MonctonRad]

Atlantic Outdoor is apparently moving from their current location in the main MID park to a spot on Berry Mills Road, either within or immediately adjacent to the MID West Industrial Park


photo from Retail Talk & Share

https://atlanticoutdoor.ca

[Scarface]

The city is curently looking at ways to alleviate the issue that seems persistent every winter. There is a spring on City own land that is a nuisance as it causes serious Ice build up in the 300 block of Westbrook Circle, and this year is especially bad as the water has made it down to Jonathan Avenue before freezing. The city has sent crews out to break up the 3-5 inch thick ice sheet. But with the Warming, and freezing that has been going on it's happening more often this year then in previous years. Hope they dig a trench going out toward the water basin.

[MonctonRad]

Most up to date site plan for the new Moncton North YMCA to be built next to Ecole le Sommet off of the new extension to Twin Oaks;



The most interesting thing here is that they now plan an outdoor basketball court/skating surface on part of the lot.

[MonctonRad]

Moncton's north end centre expected to break ground this spring
Facility sought by residents for more than a decade set to open in the fall of 2020
Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Feb 20, 2019 7:00 AM AT | Last Updated: an hour ago
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/moncton-north-end-recreation-centre-1.5025430

A long-sought recreation centre in Moncton's growing north end is one step closer to breaking ground this spring.

Moncton city council gave first reading Tuesday to a bylaw rezoning land from residential to community use.

The $15-million centre is expected to include an indoor playground, indoor splash pad, gym, walking track and community space.

The 35,000-square-foot centre is set to open in fall 2020 in a part of the city that's rapidly expanded in recent years.

It will be along Twin Oaks Drive, which the city will extend south past École Le Sommet to the Ryan Street roundabout this year.

For context, the current YMCA on Vaughan Harvey Blvd is 70,000 sq ft, therefore this facility will be half the size of the present building.

Bill Budd, the city's director of urban planning, outlined conditions of the rezoning that include maintaining a wooded buffer of 15 metres between the facility and nearby homes and reducing the required number of parking spaces.

Budd said the facility will have 155 parking spaces, below the 325 normally required for a facility of its size.

The war on the car continues, but in this case I think the parking restriction is reasonable. 155 spaces seems adequate, and the facility will be right on the Northwest Trail, so I think there will be a lot of walking and biking traffic from the immediate neighbourhood.

The facility will be constructed to allow for future expansion.

Coun. Susan Edgett asked whether that could include a branch of the Moncton public library, an idea raised when residents were pushing for construction of the centre.

Catherine Dallaire, the city's general manager of recreation, culture and events, said the Moncton public library has begun talks with the province about the idea

I think a neighbourhood library for the northwest end is a good idea. In 5-10 years, when a library expansion might occur, there will be at least 20,000 people in the neighbourhood who might use the services of a modern library and not necessarily want to go downtown for the privilege. A modern library is about more than just books.......

[MonctonRad]

Recent photo of the new anglophone middle school under construction in the Mountain View subdivision (probably about a month old).

[Feneant]

Anyone know the plan for 1902 Mountain Rd.? It's a house between Shure Gain and the strip next to Wheaton's. It has a sold sign on it but I can't see what would go on such a small property.

SNB's PAOL confused me on this one because their map is sorely out of date and the entire strip with Papa John's, Pure&Simple, etc. next to Barnaby's still shows as being 3 houses!

[MonctonRad]

As previously announced on the retail thread, the new IHOP announced for Moncton will be opening in a new commercial development being built off of Casino Drive, across the street from Casino NB and immediately next to the Petro Canada station at the Mountain Road exit off of the TCH.



According to the site plan, the restaurant will be 4,585 sq ft and will seat 158.

Here is the site plan:



As you can see, the larger commercial development that will include the IHOP will also include at least five other commercial lots, centred on a new roadway which will connect Casino Drive with Charles Lutes Road. No word yet as to what other commercial enterprises might be included, but this development could be quite popular, especially for tourism or hospitality related businesses.

I think this is a smart, smart location that IHOP has chosen for it's first Atlantic Canadian restaurant. With all the nearby hotels, the zoo and the casino, and with the visibility from the TCH, they should be constantly busy..........