The Official Moncton, NB Project Thread

[mylesmalley]

Originally Posted by HalifaxMtl666

Federal Liberals would partner with NB Government on river restoration

July 18, 2008 - 9:59 am
By: Rebecca Davis, News 91.9 Staff

MONCTON, NB-If the Liberals are elected in the next Federal Election, they will be a partner on the Petitcodiac River Restoration Project.

Although there were no details from Party Leader, Stephane Dion, on just how much the Liberals would contribute to the 68 million dollar bridge, to replace the current causeway over the river, he did say the Liberals would be a partner.

The Federal Conservatives have been very candid about saying the project is not one of their top priorities, and that they won't be contributing money to it, a fact, Dion is not impressed with.

He says, that goes to show, that the environment is not a priority for the Conservatives.

Dion said yesterday, something needs to be done on the project, and he has no choice but to support it, as Moncton, Riverview, Dieppe MP, Brian Murphy is after him about the issue, day and night.

Hear that? That's the sound of Stephane Dion never getting a vote in Riverview...

Good move on his part though. Seems to me that, with the exception of some property owners along the lake, and some people who would sooner see the money spent elsewhere, there's at least a fair amount of support for river cleanup.

[ErickMontreal]

Originally Posted by gehrhardt

I think it's St. Hubert.

Some photos of recent St-Hubert`s restaurants in Greater Montréal :

St-Thérèse, Montréal


Montréal


St-Eustache, Montréal


Montréal Downtown

[ErickMontreal]

Metro's housing market holds strong
Statistics released yesterday show affordability is second to none



Published Saturday July 19th, 2008
A1
by dwayne tingley

A 'for sale' sign is posted in front of a new home on Oak Ridge Drive in Moncton's north end.

Statistics released yesterday support Bouchard's plucky pronouncement.

The housing market in Moncton was healthy in the second quarter of this year with moderate increases in value expected to continue for the remainder of 2008, according to Royal LePage Real Estate Services house price survey.

"Everything looks very positive in our market," said Bouchard, owner of Royal LePage Metro. "Consumer confidence is good, the employment picture is good and the economy is moving along.

"When businesses look to locate in Atlantic Canada, they see our central location and they appreciate our affordable housing. It all goes into a positive economic picture for the Moncton region."

The fastest growing aspect of the housing market in Metro Moncton is in detached bungalows.

An average detached bungalow in Moncton sold for $164,000 during the first two quarters of this year -- a 15.5 per cent increase over last year's average price of $142,000.

The Atlantic region average for a detached bungalow is $177,561 or an increase of 11.3 per cent over last year. The Canadian average is $351,587 or a jump of just 5.6 per cent over last year.

Donny Légère, franchise owner of PropertyGuys.com Moncton, agrees that affordability in Moncton is quite good at the moment and believes it has a lot to do with an increase in homeowners choosing private sales.

"When a customer decides to sell privately there's no commission involved, therefore they can price it more aggressively without having to inflate the price to pay for commissions," he said.

"There are very affordable houses -- fantastic homes at great prices compared to even Fredericton and Saint John and we believe that private sales have had an impact on that."

Légère said PropertyGuys.com Moncton has helped homeowners sell more than $18.5-million in homes in the Metro area already this year. That number is double the figure last year and Légère believes an increase in privately-sold homes will continue in the future.

Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce executive-director Valerie Roy said affordable housing as always been one of Metro's strongest assets.

"Keeping housing affordable for new people moving into our area and keeping young people here, allowing them to remain in the area has helped our economy," Roy said.

"Young families will stay and locate in areas with affordable housing. That's what gives Moncton a huge competitive edge."

Bouchard said high-end housing is in a bit of a slump throughout the country, including the Maritimes. However, more people are looking for well-made, basic bungalows and there's a lack of them in Metro Moncton so their prices are increasing.

"We've always been a two-storey city, but people, like the Boomers and even young families, are looking for everything on one level now," Bouchard said.

"These bungalows give them their own space, but at an affordable price and they can put some equity into these homes then they will have a strong re-sale value as well."

Deputy Moncton Mayor Pierre Boudreau said housing in Metro is both affordable and built with high standards.

"The prices are still affordable and the quality of construction is great," Boudreau said. "It should help us attract more people, more businesses to the Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview area. It's good news for everyone."

Overall, the housing market in Atlantic Canada is solid. Detached bungalow prices jumped 23.1 per cent in St. John's, N.L., 20.1 per cent in Saint John, 6.1 per cent in Charlottetown and just 1.2 per cent in Halifax.

The sharpest increases in Canada were recorded in Regina (36.7 per cent) and Saskatoon (21 per cent), while prices fell 14.5 per cent in Edmonton and 4.7 per cent in Calgary.

"We hear a lot of negativity about the markets in the United States, but the housing statistics in Canada remain strong," Bouchard said. "I expect it to stay that way for the rest of the year."
______________________________________________________________________________________

The Sleuth

News that Hudson's Bay Co. has been sold to a U.S. firm that runs the classy Lord & Taylor department store chain must have rattled a few dishes at The Bay store in Moncton.

The local outlet must be hanging on for dear life with the lack of support from Highfield Square. Now that a new owner is riding into town, Sleuth has to wonder how much longer they will put up with the revenue generated by the Moncton outlet.

***

The Moncton contingent to the IAAF World Junior Track and Field Championships in Bydgozcz, Poland is back in town, filled up with good Polish sausages and information on how to host the major event.

The local delegation, which included city officials, reps from Athletics Canada and members of the local organizing committee, wanted to see first-hand how an event with more than 130 countries went off.

Sleuth's sources say they were impressed by the Polish organization and hospitality. This old gumshoe also hears that we can expect an announcement within a week on who will be the chairman of the 2010 Moncton Games.

If the whispers planted in Sleuth's eager ears are correct, expect the lead person for the Games to be a very well-respected local businessman who is known for both his community involvement and for knowing how to get things done.

***

After what seems like an eternity, Metro should also finally get all the inside dope this week on what's going to take shape at the corner of Mapleton Road and Wheeler Boulevard.

The land has been cleared for development since last year and Sleuth was starting to get questions on whether anything was going to be built on the prime corner land. Fear not, Metro shoppers!

Sleuth hears the next phase of retail development will include some stores that have not yet appeared anywhere in New Brunswick. Expect a mix of fashion, home and electronics, service outlets and restaurants.

And sticking with the hot Mapleton corridor for just a second, Sleuth also hears the long-established Day & Ross terminal at the corner of Mapleton and the Trans-Canada Highway may soon be on the move.

Sources say the trucking firm has its eye on land in the Caledonia Industrial Park for a new home. Of course, the trucking folks also know their property is now among the most sought-after in the entire city as Mapleton is widened and becomes a key retail corridor for the entire region.

So, what's planned for that corner? Another hotel? A factory outlet village? . . .

***

Now that the exact location of Moncton's new $90 million casino has been revealed, expect to see some hot real estate action near the southwest corner of Mountain Road and the Trans-Canada Highway.

The casino is actually tucked in off Mountain Road, between the Sunshine Estates subdivision and the Petro-Canada gas station. There's still a large hunk of land available between the casino and the TCH.

Sleuth would love to know who owns that property. Speaking of a casino, anyone want to place bets before that prime property gets scooped up by someone with plans for another hotel or retail space?

Meanwhile, Sleuth's phone is starting to ring with parents just a bit concerned with the proximity of the casino to the new north-end school on Ryan Road.

The gambling spot will be just a good soccer kick from the school. Let's see, just imagine the school's curriculum now . . . OK class, after recess, we will begin our lesson on blackjack dealing followed by some high-stakes poker!

[ErickMontreal]

Codiac Transit plans to have shuttle in place as early as December; taxi industry upset by plan
A3
BY NICK MOORE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

Codiac Transit is getting ready to put the wheels of an airport shuttle bus in motion which would deliver travellers from the Greater Moncton International Airport to several hotels in Metro.

John Allain, general manager of Codiac Transit, says the plan is to have the airport shuttle on the road by late this year or early 2009.

"We're in the process now of doing the finishing touches on how that would look," says Allain. "Our launch time is somewhere in December or January and it will be undertaken."

That doesn't sit well with Claude-Pierre Gagné, a taxi driver in Metro and member of the Moncton Taxi Committee.

"The problem I have with Codiac Transit doing it is the fact that this is a crown corporation basically subsidized by the taxpayer and the province," says Gagné. "Now if it was a private business doing this, the taxi industry is more than willing to compete with the private enterprise at any given time. But to compete with crown corporations is a totally different story.

"It's a competitor you can't win with because it's subsidized by the crown."

Allain says the airport shuttle would be funded and designed by Codiac Transit initially, but would ultimately be passed over to a private company for any further operation.

"We've got enough on our plate," says Allain, regarding Codiac Transit. "We don't need another branch of service."

While Allain wouldn't say specifically how long the shuttle would be under Codiac Transit's control -- "It could be a year, a year and a half," he says -- spinning the service off to the private sector is something he says would definitely happen.

"We've made it very clear to all the parties concerned that we'll be more than happy to help design it, fund it, launch it, market it," he says. "But at the same time it's not our intention to operate it."

Allain says Codiac Transit views the introduction of an airport shuttle as being part of making Metro's transportation sector more connected, a key reason why he says the public transit service is initiating it.

Allain says the shuttle would benefit the tri-community's transportation industry as a whole, including the taxi industry.

"(This is) not something to be in competition with taxis," he says. "We call it the airport shuttle but it has a great deal more value to it than just airports."

Allain says the service would connect travellers to the taxis, the regular Codiac Transit line, the intercity bus line and the VIA Rail station.

Gagné says Codiac Transit should stay away from picking travellers up at the airport altogether, focusing instead on the taxpayers of Greater Moncton.

"I think they should concentrate on the citizens of the cities, providing transportation to the citizens of the city," he says.

Allain says several other cities with international airports have gone about starting airport shuttle services in this fashion before passing it off to the private sector. He also says a shuttle service is a basic standard at any international airport.

Allain didn't give details on how much the shuttle will cost to develop and operate or how much money it will cost for passengers to get on the bus, although he says the plan is for the service to pay for itself.

Roughly seven airports in Metro are on a list of possible shuttle stops from the airport. Already, a few hotels close to the airport in Dieppe offer shuttle service to passengers who have made reservations to stay with them.

Stephanie Dancause-Coté, spokeswoman for the Greater Moncton International Airport, stopped short of confirming an airport shuttle will be coming to the airport, saying discussions were ongoing. However, she says an airport shuttle would be a welcome addition at the province's largest airport.

"We've had travellers requesting it for several years," she says.

[mylesmalley]

Originally Posted by HalifaxMtl666

Codiac Transit plans to have shuttle in place as early as December; taxi industry upset by plan
A3
BY NICK MOORE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

Codiac Transit is getting ready to put the wheels of an airport shuttle bus in motion which would deliver travellers from the Greater Moncton International Airport to several hotels in Metro.

John Allain, general manager of Codiac Transit, says the plan is to have the airport shuttle on the road by late this year or early 2009.

"We're in the process now of doing the finishing touches on how that would look," says Allain. "Our launch time is somewhere in December or January and it will be undertaken."

That doesn't sit well with Claude-Pierre Gagné, a taxi driver in Metro and member of the Moncton Taxi Committee.

"The problem I have with Codiac Transit doing it is the fact that this is a crown corporation basically subsidized by the taxpayer and the province," says Gagné. "Now if it was a private business doing this, the taxi industry is more than willing to compete with the private enterprise at any given time. But to compete with crown corporations is a totally different story.

"It's a competitor you can't win with because it's subsidized by the crown."

Allain says the airport shuttle would be funded and designed by Codiac Transit initially, but would ultimately be passed over to a private company for any further operation.

"We've got enough on our plate," says Allain, regarding Codiac Transit. "We don't need another branch of service."

While Allain wouldn't say specifically how long the shuttle would be under Codiac Transit's control -- "It could be a year, a year and a half," he says -- spinning the service off to the private sector is something he says would definitely happen.

"We've made it very clear to all the parties concerned that we'll be more than happy to help design it, fund it, launch it, market it," he says. "But at the same time it's not our intention to operate it."

Allain says Codiac Transit views the introduction of an airport shuttle as being part of making Metro's transportation sector more connected, a key reason why he says the public transit service is initiating it.

Allain says the shuttle would benefit the tri-community's transportation industry as a whole, including the taxi industry.

"(This is) not something to be in competition with taxis," he says. "We call it the airport shuttle but it has a great deal more value to it than just airports."

Allain says the service would connect travellers to the taxis, the regular Codiac Transit line, the intercity bus line and the VIA Rail station.

Gagné says Codiac Transit should stay away from picking travellers up at the airport altogether, focusing instead on the taxpayers of Greater Moncton.

"I think they should concentrate on the citizens of the cities, providing transportation to the citizens of the city," he says.

Allain says several other cities with international airports have gone about starting airport shuttle services in this fashion before passing it off to the private sector. He also says a shuttle service is a basic standard at any international airport.

Allain didn't give details on how much the shuttle will cost to develop and operate or how much money it will cost for passengers to get on the bus, although he says the plan is for the service to pay for itself.

Roughly seven airports in Metro are on a list of possible shuttle stops from the airport. Already, a few hotels close to the airport in Dieppe offer shuttle service to passengers who have made reservations to stay with them.

Stephanie Dancause-Coté, spokeswoman for the Greater Moncton International Airport, stopped short of confirming an airport shuttle will be coming to the airport, saying discussions were ongoing. However, she says an airport shuttle would be a welcome addition at the province's largest airport.

"We've had travellers requesting it for several years," she says.

So we have seven airports now? Damn...

[ErickMontreal]

St. George Street needs urban vision

Published Saturday July 19th, 2008
D9
Dave Barnett

Now that Moncton has a new mayor and he seems to want a lot of input from common citizens, I thought I'd speak my mind about some of the new development that is taking place in and near the downtown area.

Firstly, it's nice to see so much activity along Main Street. Last Friday, I had a chance to tour the new Marriott Residence Inn along with some friends from the Kiwanis Club. What a beautiful property. From the perspective of urban growth, it's nice to see another "empty" block along Main Street be filled with an impressive structure that fits in nicely with the surrounding buildings.

Further down Main Street there is a building at the corner of Lutz Street that is also undergoing a growth spurt.

What a nice job by developers on Main Street.

Now let me start complaining . . . about St George Street. Here's the irony: St George Street is one of the most functional areas of the city to do business. I've had my office on St George Street for the past year.

Let me tell you what I like about it:

-- No parking problems when I go visit an office on Main Street. I just walk down there.

-- I can walk to the post office.

-- I can walk to my bank.

-- I can walk to a copy and sign shop.

-- I can walk to the drug store.

-- I can walk to several different places to have lunch.

-- I have always been able to find a parking spot on the street within two blocks of my office and I never pay for it.

-- Whenever someone wants to come visit me, they often park right on St George Street. Although they have to pay into a meter, it's very convenient.

-- I can walk over to my collection agent and see if she's been lucky with any of the deadbeats that owe me money. (hehe!)

So if St George Street is such a mecca of commerce and an ideal place for development, then why are such stupid projects being allowed here? Let me explain further . . .

At the corner of St George and Bonaccord the city allowed an apartment building to be put up. I think it's funny that a developer on Alma Street got into trouble for using a faux brick façade on his building when apparently vinyl siding is OK on St. George Street.

New buildings on this street should feature office or retail on the lower levels, they should also be forced to look nice and stately, like some of the nearby buildings.

Further down at the corner of St. George and Weldon is one of the long time offenders. The great wall of China, er, I mean Shoppers Drug Mart.

Who allowed this company to build what looks like a prison wall along one of our principal streets? There are hardly any windows. Why weren't they required to make this side at least appear like a store front? The fact that the store faces the parking lot tells me that the builders didn't even realize they were building in a city's downtown.

They used a plan for a suburban setting. This building would fit in properly on Trinity Drive or Dieppe Boulevard, but it's not for downtown.

Right next door a new offender is being built. Another apartment building!

Zoning rules are meant to guide the development of a neighbourhood but they also serve another purpose. I recently called the planning office to inquire about building a commercial type building in a residential zone. I wanted to know what would be involved in either changing the zoning or getting a variance.

What the planner said to me is very insightful: "the zoning is not just about controlling what is built; it is a promise to the other people in that area of what is to come. People bought houses on that street with the idea that another house or duplex would be built on that empty lot, not your new glue factory, Mr. Barnett."

That last part is a joke, there just isn't any profit in glue anymore.

So here's my question: Why isn't anyone defending the makeup of one of Moncton's principal commercial streets? Why are these projects being permitted on St. George Street? Is there a failure in the zoning bylaw or in enforcement?

St. George Street is, for the most part, zoned as "Secondary Business District" which allows for a lot of mixed development including "any residential use." I guess that is how these projects are getting approved. Maybe the new mayor should change this. Maybe St. George Street's inclusion in Downtown Moncton Inc. can help move this forward.

Ironically, this zone does not allow for billboards. I've always thought that advertising can define an urban landscape and lead to an optimistic feeling. Just look at Times Square in New York City or the images of Tokyo that you see on TV. Lots of billboards, cool places to be.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Casino design lacks panache

Published Wednesday July 16th, 2008
D6

Months of anticipation ended yesterday when details of Moncton's new $90 million casino were revealed.Now that the exact location of the gaming centre, hotel and entertainment complex is known, we can expect pro- and anti-casino groups to coalese. Don't be surprised if neighbours of the sprawling casino start to raise their voices about the proximity of gambling to so many churches, schools and residential subdivisions.

The design of the complex is another matter. We must say we are underwhelmed by the use of a lighthouse as the focal point for the casino. Is it chintzy? Out of place? Lighthouses -- as any red-blooded Maritimer knows -- are found along the coast, where they act as warning beacons for ships. The closest water to the new casino may be the wave pool at Magic Mountain Water Park.

Using a lighthouse as the design focal point for the casino seems to be misplaced in a location so far inland. It would make more sense at the waterfront casinos in downtown Halifax or in Sydney.

This newspaper continues to support the establishment of the casino in our region. It will be a welcomed economic magnet that brings much-needed investment, jobs and spin-offs to our city.

We just wish that with $90 million to be spent, the designers had been a bit more inventive on the beacon that will lure tourists off the highway.

[Wishblade]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

So we have seven airports now? Damn...

I think they meant Hotels. Atleast I would think so lol

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

So we have seven airports now? Damn...

Well, if you include McEwen Field we actually have two airports....

[MonctonRad]

Proposed secondary access through Muirfield Drive will create increased traffic, unwanted noise in neighbourhood, council told

By Craig Babstock
Times & Transcript Staff

A group of approximately 25 Magnetic Hill-area residents appeared before Moncton City Council last night to oppose the connection of Muirfield Drive to the future casino property.

"We're ready to do whatever we have to do," spokeswoman Barb Stead said, during her presentation to council.

Stead said one neighbour, a retired civil servant, is willing to go to drastic measures to keep the developer from extending Muirfield and bringing casino traffic into their neighbourhood.

"She's willing to lay down in the road, if that's what it takes," said Stead.

The residents made their presentation to council based on two issues: the extension of Muirfield and the 18-metre buffer zone that will divide the casino property and residential properties on Sunshine Drive. But Stead made it clear that while they want as wide a buffer as possible -- featuring trees and a security fence -- the road is the main issue.

The $90-million casino project was officially announced last week. It will consist of a hotel, palladium and casino built just south of Mountain Road, near Highway 2 (Trans-Canada Highway). Work is expected to begin in August and it will open in 2010.

The plans for the casino show the main entrance off Mountain Road and a secondary access via Muirfield. The extension of Muirfield is in the city's municipal plan, though Sonco Gaming officials have said it may not be necessary.

The residents are concerned about increased traffic and increased speeding posing a danger to children in the area and bringing unwanted noise.

"For this to become another Mountain Road is definitely unwelcome," Stead told council. She added they also fear Muirfield would be used as a construction road for the gaming facility, though city staff said that would not be the case.

With preliminary work scheduled to begin in August, Stead said it's urgent council take quick action to prevent the road from going through.

"We need action as soon as possible," she said.

Council was sympathetic to the group's concerns, with Mayor George LeBlanc stating the road can't go through without the approval of council. But the matter is complicated by the fact the site needs a second access point for emergency purposes, according to Bill Budd, executive director of the Greater Moncton Planning Commission. If there's no connection to Muirfield, there has to be a connection somewhere else, which may affect other residents.

The general consensus was that all options for the second access to the casino property must be considered. The mayor said if the developer wants to move the project forward, it would be in their best interests to come forward with a proposal that doesn't involve Muirfield.

The matter will next be addressed at the planning commission's Aug 7 meeting, before returning to Moncton City Council on Aug. 18. Both meetings are at City Hall and both are open to the public.



It's interesting that the resident's of the area seem so surprised that the casino would connect directly to Muirfield Drive.

Seems to me that an earlier post on this thread mentioned that Muirfield was to be extended to Mountain Road anyway, connecting at the on ramp to the TCH. On the other end, Muirfield is in the process of being connected to Twin Oaks Drive which, in turn is to be extended to Ryan Road at the intersection with Horsman Road and then finally carry on to Berry Mills Road.

This would mean that in the original plan; Muirfield/Twin Oaks was intended to be a connector from Berry Mills Road right through to Mountain Road at the TCH! Were the residents of Muirfield not aware that this was the original plan all along?

[MonctonRad]

Moncton city council awarded a $3.5-million tender for a new water storage tank in the city's northwest end at last night's meeting.

The contract was awarded to Landmark Structures and work is expected to begin in the near future. The structure will be located off Twin Oaks Drive, near the existing tank, which has been in place for approximately 25 years.

The new tank is expected to last more than 50 years and staff told council it should provide better water service to residents in that area.

"It's in bad shape, we're having trouble maintaining it and it has reached the end of its lifespan," said Mayor George LeBlanc after last night's meeting. "That decision (to replace the tower) was made before I came back to council but my understanding is it basically was worn out. The decision was to scrap it and get a new tower up there."

[mylesmalley]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Proposed secondary access through Muirfield Drive will create increased traffic, unwanted noise in neighbourhood, council told

By Craig Babstock
Times & Transcript Staff

A group of approximately 25 Magnetic Hill-area residents appeared before Moncton City Council last night to oppose the connection of Muirfield Drive to the future casino property.

"We're ready to do whatever we have to do," spokeswoman Barb Stead said, during her presentation to council.

Stead said one neighbour, a retired civil servant, is willing to go to drastic measures to keep the developer from extending Muirfield and bringing casino traffic into their neighbourhood.

"She's willing to lay down in the road, if that's what it takes," said Stead.

The residents made their presentation to council based on two issues: the extension of Muirfield and the 18-metre buffer zone that will divide the casino property and residential properties on Sunshine Drive. But Stead made it clear that while they want as wide a buffer as possible -- featuring trees and a security fence -- the road is the main issue.

The $90-million casino project was officially announced last week. It will consist of a hotel, palladium and casino built just south of Mountain Road, near Highway 2 (Trans-Canada Highway). Work is expected to begin in August and it will open in 2010.

The plans for the casino show the main entrance off Mountain Road and a secondary access via Muirfield. The extension of Muirfield is in the city's municipal plan, though Sonco Gaming officials have said it may not be necessary.

The residents are concerned about increased traffic and increased speeding posing a danger to children in the area and bringing unwanted noise.

"For this to become another Mountain Road is definitely unwelcome," Stead told council. She added they also fear Muirfield would be used as a construction road for the gaming facility, though city staff said that would not be the case.

With preliminary work scheduled to begin in August, Stead said it's urgent council take quick action to prevent the road from going through.

"We need action as soon as possible," she said.

Council was sympathetic to the group's concerns, with Mayor George LeBlanc stating the road can't go through without the approval of council. But the matter is complicated by the fact the site needs a second access point for emergency purposes, according to Bill Budd, executive director of the Greater Moncton Planning Commission. If there's no connection to Muirfield, there has to be a connection somewhere else, which may affect other residents.

The general consensus was that all options for the second access to the casino property must be considered. The mayor said if the developer wants to move the project forward, it would be in their best interests to come forward with a proposal that doesn't involve Muirfield.

The matter will next be addressed at the planning commission's Aug 7 meeting, before returning to Moncton City Council on Aug. 18. Both meetings are at City Hall and both are open to the public.



It's interesting that the resident's of the area seem so surprised that the casino would connect directly to Muirfield Drive.

Seems to me that an earlier post on this thread mentioned that Muirfield was to be extended to Mountain Road anyway, connecting at the on ramp to the TCH. On the other end, Muirfield is in the process of being connected to Twin Oaks Drive which, in turn is to be extended to Ryan Road at the intersection with Horsman Road and then finally carry on to Berry Mills Road.

This would mean that in the original plan; Muirfield/Twin Oaks was intended to be a connector from Berry Mills Road right through to Mountain Road at the TCH! Were the residents of Muirfield not aware that this was the original plan all along?

Classic NIMBY is all this is. The decision has been made to build the casino there, and the city needs more than one entrance for safety reasons. Nuff said.

And you bring up an interesting point. People move to these high growth neighborhoods, but as soon as they've settled in, they don't want to see the area change at all. That area is relatively new. It shouldn't take a rocket scientist to see that the North end was eventually going to meet up with them, especially at it's current rate of growth. Personally, I love the idea of connecting Muirsfield from the TCH down to Twin Oaks down to Ryan and Horseman. It would create a somewhat viable alternative to taking Mountain Rd. during rush hour.

[gehrhardt]

The signs are up and the parking lot is paved at the Hampton Inn. It doesn't look like there is much left to do (outside anyway). They were taking the spacers or whatever they're called out from between the panes of glass on the large glass area on the side of the buillding this morning too. The billboard is up for it on the TCH near Berry Mills and I think I saw one out past the airport on the TCH as well. It must be opening soon.

Also, there is a lot of work going on next to the new hotel. They must be getting started on the other buildings that were proposed for that area.

[ErickMontreal]

Botsford Street open to traffic
Street's third lane expected to be complete within a week



Published Wednesday July 23rd, 2008

A7
Times & Transcript Staff

Construction is not yet complete, but Moncton's Botsford Street is now once again open to traffic.

Traffic moves on Botsford Street yesterday. Construction in the area is not complete but the road is open to traffic.

Yet to be completed is a second thru lane heading north towards Lewisville Road and crossing Wheeler Boulevard. Botsford, which is a main road that feeds onto Wheeler Boulevard, had been undergoing construction to widen the road to three lanes. Only two of those lanes are currently open to traffic.

Remaining work is expected to be completed within a week.

"Right now it's a little hard to answer with 100 per cent certainty, it's really dependant on the weather," said City of Moncton's director of design and construction Alcide Richard. "We're anticipating and we're hoping for the end of the week that they'd be done and if the rain wants to hold off I think we'll be very close to that."

Richard said there is a little bit of landscaping yet to do and some curbing near the King Street end of Botsford Street.

The approximately $1-million project began work on May 20 and was originally scheduled to be completed by July 29. Barring extreme weather, it appears the project will be complete and fully functional before that date.

Richard says he appreciates the patience of the residents and motorists who were inconvenienced by the construction but believes that the operation went pretty smoothly while Botsford Street was out of commission.

"It worked pretty well even with the detours and stuff on King Street, the traffic was still flowing. It wasn't as good as normal but it was still flowing fairly good," he said.

[mylesmalley]

From the Transcript:

$30m reservoir expansion begins
Published Wednesday July 23rd, 2008



The City of Moncton has taken the first steps to expand Metro’s water supply, a project that will cost up to $30 million over the next decade. The Tower Road dam and reservoir project will be constructed in the Turtle Creek watershed, a few kilometres upstream from the Turtle Creek reservoir (shown). The dam will be similar to the one at the bottom left of photo. Construction will begin in 2010 and should be completed by 2012.

[mylesmalley]

City plans massive water supply expansion
Published Wednesday July 23rd, 2008


Tower Road dam and reservoir will be built upstream from Turtle Creek reservoir
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By Craig Babstock
Times & Transcript Staff

The City of Moncton is embarking on a massive expansion of its water supply that could cost up to $30 million over the next decade.


RON WARD/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT
The Turtle Creek Reservoir, where Metro Moncton's water comes from, will be expanded. Here you see the old spillway on the left. On the right side of the photo is the stored water.
The Tower Road dam and reservoir project will be constructed in the Turtle Creek watershed, only a few kilometres upstream from the Turtle Creek reservoir.

It will greatly increase the city's water supply and, taking into account population growth in the next few decades, is expected to serve the region for the next 50 years or longer.

"Water is one of the most fundamental things we have and for a prosperous city like Moncton we shouldn't have to worry (during times of drought) about whether we've got enough water to get us through the next couple of weeks," says Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc.

"Sometimes we hit these hot, long summers and next thing you know we've got these warnings coming out to conserve water, not wash your cars and water your lawns and all that stuff. Sometimes we're getting a little closer to the edge than we would like and this is going to give us the security we need."

Several droughts over the last 20 years prompted the city to move forward with the expansion of the water supply. In 1989 and 1994 the water supply dropped during droughts, taking a long time to build back up. Gates were installed to raise the water level in the mid-1990s, but dry conditions returned in the summer of 2000.

The reservoir was not completely refilled until the end of October that year, but things got worse in 2001. A very dry summer led to another bad drought where the reservoir dropped to one-third of its capacity. It did not completely fill up again until March 2002.

"The 2001-02 drought was really unprecedented since the dam was built," says Ensor Nicholson, the city's director of water systems.

The city commissioned a water supply review study and the recommendation that emerged was for a second dam and reservoir in the Turtle Creek watershed, five kilometres (three miles) upstream from the Turtle Creek dam. Following a provincial environmental impact assessment and last year's signing of a 10-year water supply agreement with Dieppe and Riverview, the city issued a request for proposals for the design and project management of the Tower Road dam and reservoir.

At Monday night's city council meeting, a $1.76 million contract was awarded to Touchie Engineering -- a Moncton company bought by R.V. Anderson Associates in 2000 -- for design and project management. Over the next couple of years, geotechnical and topographic surveying will be done, and plans will be created for forest harvesting, environmental protection and fish habitat and wetland compensation.

Plans will return to council for approval and input will be sought from the public during open house meetings. Proposals will eventually be requested for the construction of the dam and reservoir, a project estimated to cost $18 million to $20 million. Construction will begin in 2010 and be completed in 2012.

The current Turtle Creek reservoir, completed in the mid-1960s, only has the capacity to serve a population of between 80,000 and 100,000 people. Once the new reservoir is operational, the city will have enough water supply at both locations for a population of approximately 175,000.

According to Touchie Engineering project manager John Gallant, the current Turtle Creek capacity is about eight million cubic metres. The new dam will create capacity for an additional 10 million cubic metres, for a total of 18 million cubic metres.

A second phase of the project that might not happen until 25 years down the road will see gates installed at the new dam, raising the total capacity of both sites to 24.5 million cubic metres.

The actual dam will be 1.2 kilometres (.7 miles) long. It will be 20 metres (66 feet) high in the middle and will taper off towards the ends.

There are also plans for a pumping station to be built at the new dam, five to 10 years after the dam is completed. There is currently a pumping station at the Turtle Creek dam, but Nicholson says having two would provide extra security against mechanical failure or power outage at the first pumping station.

The pumping station, and some other planned additions, will add $6 million to $8 million to the cost when they're eventually built, bringing the total cost of the project to between $28 million and $30 million.

The mayor says the city has $12.5 million set aside in the capital budget for the $20 million dam and reservoir construction phase, but hopes to tap into funding.

"The hope is we're going to be able to find some help with our federal infrastructure funds and we're hopeful we can get up to 50 per cent funding on that," says LeBlanc.

[JasonL-Moncton]

The turtle creek announcement, to me, is money well spent.

I'd heard in the past that one of the reason's that Molson brought their new brewery here was due to the quantity and specifically the quality of Moncton's water supply.

[mylesmalley]

Originally Posted by JasonL-Moncton

The turtle creek announcement, to me, is money well spent.

I'd heard in the past that one of the reason's that Molson brought their new brewery here was due to the quantity and specifically the quality of Moncton's water supply.

yeah, i've heard the same.

I wonder where this will leave Dieppe with their plans on creating a second municipal water supply out in Lakeville?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

I wonder where this will leave Dieppe with their plans on creating a second municipal water supply out in Lakeville?

I've heard that they plan to keep their expropriated land in Lakeville (for future insurance and as a bargaining chip with Moncton).

Dieppe however has no immediate plans to proceed with their own water supply. I think they are reasonably happy with the recently negotiated water agreement with Moncton. Given the fact that Dieppe is currently financially embarrassed (gold plated aquatic centre and new city hall), they do not currently have the financial resources to strike out on their own anyway.

[mylesmalley]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I've heard that they plan to keep their expropriated land in Lakeville (for future insurance and as a bargaining chip with Moncton).

Dieppe however has no immediate plans to proceed with their own water supply. I think they are reasonably happy with the recently negotiated water agreement with Moncton. Given the fact that Dieppe is currently financially embarrassed (gold plated aquatic centre and new city hall), they do not currently have the financial resources to strike out on their own anyway.

Reminds me of an arrogant worms song

"Put it on credit, and then forget it.
Don't let it both you, no more, no more!"


I've always enjoyed how moncton council and dieppe take opposite approaches to development. Moncton is all about 'when they come, build it.'. It's taken them years to widen mapleton road, and only after half of the street is developed. Dieppe, on the other hand, takes the "if we build it, they will come" approach. both have their place, but it's funny how the two councils manage to take their respective approach to the very extreme.

[mylesmalley]

Mega stores move to Mapleton
Published Thursday July 24th, 2008


The Brick, Best Buy and Linens 'n' Things among expected retailers at new power centre
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By James Foster
Times & Transcript Staff

Electronics retail giant Best Buy, big-box home fashions store Linens 'n' Things and The Brick furniture store will form a new Mapleton Fashion Centre, to be built near the northeast corner of Mapleton Road and Trinity Drive, documents filed with the region's planning commission suggest.

While The Brick had long been rumoured as a major tenant of the new centre, the other two well-known retailers will be heralded by Moncton shoppers as exciting additions to one of eastern Canada's fastest growing shopping districts.

"It's going to be welcomed in the northeast end," Greater Moncton Planning District Commission member Dave Cudmore commented as the plans were clarified during a commission meeting last night.

Mapleton Holdings Inc. president Patrick Gillespie declined to elaborate on his development plans after the meeting, saying more details were coming soon.

However, public documents at the commission show those three stores in one large building will be built at the rear of the triangular piece of land, with the back of the building (dubbed Building B) closer to Halls Creek, with a similar-sized 'Building D' several metres directly across from it, parallel to and with its back against the westbound off-ramp from Wheeler Boulevard to Mapleton Road and divided by a large parking area.

A smaller 'Building A' will back onto Mapleton Road, north of the off-ramp. Buildings A and D will be sandwiched by a smaller Building C, to be located near the intersection of the off-ramp and Mapleton Road. The tenants of those buildings are not yet known, however talk in construction circles suggest Building C will house two restaurants.

While the three mega-retailers will form the Mapleton Fashion Centre, the entire four-building campus will be dubbed the Mapleton Power Centre. It is widely anticipated the development won't end at those four buildings, which total almost 195,000 square feet, with further development to come.

The so-called Mapleton Fashion Centre in Building B will measure more than 61,000 square feet by itself.

While the expansive property has been undergoing preparation for some months and Mapleton Road is being rebuilt partly in anticipation of the increased traffic due to the new development, actual construction can now proceed.

"We have the crews idling and waiting to start construction," Gillespie told commissioners.

Conditions imposed by the commission ensure sidewalks will be built in a timely manner to accommodate pedestrians, unlike when parts of the nearby Wheeler Park Power Centre were built, with sidewalks being added much later, leading to conflicts between walkers and vehicles.

The parking area will be treed to add to its eye appeal.

Cudmore had some concerns that the only way to turn left when leaving the development will be via the main entrance and exit, at Frampton Lane. That reminded him of the gridlock that developed when Wheeler Park was built. However, the developers had in hand a traffic study that says the expected 2,000 vehicles daily to visit "Moncton's newest retail centre," as the development has been dubbed, "will be more than adequately served."

A second access and egress will serve only cars travelling north on Mapleton Road, whether they are coming into the complex or leaving it. An elaborate tower of sorts, for signage, will be built at the intersection of the westbound off-ramp and Mapleton Road to clearly indicate the new shopping district's location. At that same intersection, the stores will be on a somewhat lower grade than the adjacent roads, so walkways, including wheelchair ramps, will guide pedestrians up to the traffic lights where they can safely cross Mapleton Road and proceed to the existing retail development on the Mapleton's west side.

The main entrance will be via the new intersection being built at Frampton Lane which will extend across Mapleton Road easterly and into the complex via two entry lanes, leading onto a street running along the front of three of the buildings and named The Brick Street, according to the plans. Traffic will leave via three lanes, one turning right (north) on Mapleton; one turning left (south) on Mapleton and one lane for traffic going directly across Mapleton onto Frampton Lane.

A development of this magnitude requires about 780 parking spots, however the developers will build parking for 823 vehicles, though the plans clearly suggest that further development is anticipated in the future in that area which could tap into some of that excess parking capacity.