[Moncton] Riverview Developments

[MonctonRad]

The new East Riverview School has now finally opened (halfway through the school year).

I really hate that name - so unimaginative. Given that we have a former Prime Minister of Canada from just down the road in Albert County, it might have been nice to use this opportunity to honour him - the Honourable R B Bennett Memorial Public School or something along those lines…….

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The December meeting of the Riverview PAC will include a request for variance to allow rezoning of a property on Montgomery Avenue to Commercial to allow for construction of a new McDonald's restaurant, to be attached to the existing Irving/Circle K on Coverdale Road.







This development has been rumoured for at least a year, but it is nice to see some renderings, and it would appear that this development will likely proceed next year. Once the new McDonald's is built here, the existing McDonald's Express location in the PJC building down the road will be taken over by Jean Coutu to allow for expansion of the pharmacy…….

I see that this proposed development has passed first reading at Riverview town council. A small thing, but still a victory in the campaign against the perception that Riverview is anti-commercial development.

I am neutral on this proposal, but it is important that Riverview shake it's (apparent) anti commercial development stance. There were a number of NIMBY's at the town council meeting, supported by a couple of town councillors, but the proposal passed first reading by a vote of 5-2.

[riverviewer]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

There were a number of NIMBY's at the town council meeting, supported by a couple of town councillors, but the proposal passed first reading by a vote of 5-2.

I received pamphlets in the mailbox from a group of concerned citizens. The issue is that the drive-through will divert traffic into a residential neighbourhood instead of onto Coverdale road.

In the current proposal cars exiting the drive-through will enter the intersection of Montgomery and Dobson. Cars that can make a left on Montgomery will have no lights to access Coverdale. This will cause traffic jams during lunch and dinner rush hours. The other options either go up Montgomery to cut over to the lights on Blythwood, or straight onto Dobson until they hit the lights at Pine Glen. The residents do not believe this will be safe for the children walking to school to have that many cars using the grid of residential streets.

The NIMBY's are asking for egress on Coverdale road.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by riverviewer

I received pamphlets in the mailbox from a group of concerned citizens. The issue is that the drive-through will divert traffic into a residential neighbourhood instead of onto Coverdale road.

In the current proposal cars exiting the drive-through will enter the intersection of Montgomery and Dobson. Cars that can make a left on Montgomery will have no lights to access Coverdale. This will cause traffic jams during lunch and dinner rush hours. The other options either go up Montgomery to cut over to the lights on Blythwood, or straight onto Dobson until they hit the lights at Pine Glen. The residents do not believe this will be safe for the children walking to school to have that many cars using the grid of residential streets.

The NIMBY's are asking for egress on Coverdale road.

The NIMBY's may get their wish. The developer apparently has withdrawn his application before town council. He is reserving the right to bring back the proposal to town council, but for now the issue is dead.

[Good2go]

It's too bad there is absolutely no other location available in the area where McDonalds could build. It's not like there is now an empty KFC just across the street, where the only neighbours would be a grocery store and a muffler shop.

[josh_cat_eyes]

The KFC in Riverview is now listed on Plaza REIT's site. I wonder if they plan on moving or building a new one.

[MonctonRad]

Apparently money has been set aside in the new provincial budget to start the process of renovating Riverview High School.

[MonctonRad]

further to the above:

The (Anglophone East School Board's) second priority, however, was approved, and Riverview High School will soon have more space for its students.

The school was built in 1977 and with 1,117 students, it has the largest student body in the district. In 10 years, the district predicts 1,164 students will attend.

A new addition to the school would accommodate student population growth, as the school is currently over capacity (at 104 per cent) and there is no shop/technology space for students in the community.

Repairs to Riverview High School were also prevalent on the district’s capital improvement project list. Recommendations to the school were: part two of exterior windows replacement/repair ($450,000), a fire door upgrade ($360,000) and emergency lighting ($108,000).

source:
http://22864.vws.magma.ca/index.php?&article_id=12396

[mylesmalley]

Hmm... that student number is a bit disturbing. Given the population growth in Riverview over the past ten years, they're either expecting very limited growth or a pretty dramatic ageing of the town over the next decade.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

Hmm... that student number is a bit disturbing. Given the population growth in Riverview over the past ten years, they're either expecting very limited growth or a pretty dramatic ageing of the town over the next decade.

A little bit of both I think.

Most population growth in the metro area will likely stay on the north side of the river since that is where most of the amenities and commercial activity is. At the same time, the population of the town will continue to gradually get greyer and greyer.

It is still encouraging to see that they expect the student population to grow slowly in Riverview. This means that they expect at least some young families to move into town. This is better than a lot of places in NB. The town itself will likely grow from (nearly) 20,000 to about 22,000 or so in the next decade. Meanwhile, Dieppe will likely hit 34,000 and Moncton might reach 80,000 during the same time frame.

[Monctoncore]

I think its reasonable numbers, only because there are usually 300 - 400 new students coming in each year and usually that amount graduates also, so right now they are only showing the numbers for students coming in from Jr. High etc. If they had a better understanding of how many families with teens were moving to the area they could then justify upping that number. The thing is with Riverview the growth is mostly young families with younger children or seniors.

[MonctonRad]

According to the T&T, a new commercial plaza will be built on Pinewood Rd in Findlay Park this summer.

Pinewood Plaza is being developed by Adelin Properties, and will encompass 10 units totalling nearly 20,000 sq ft.

[MonctonRad]

According to the T&T, they mentioned at Riverview town council last night that a new tenant for the old KFC on Coverdale Rd will be announced "imminently".

Also, a whole network of dedicated bike lanes will be marked on town streets this summer. This will be part of Riverview's active transportation plan…….

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

According to the T&T, they mentioned at Riverview town council last night that a new tenant for the old KFC on Coverdale Rd will be announced "imminently".

It's funny because Plaza REIT lists Riverview as a location for a KFC. Maybe they are going to build one in Findlay in the summer?

[JasonL-Moncton]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

A little bit of both I think.

Most population growth in the metro area will likely stay on the north side of the river since that is where most of the amenities and commercial activity is. At the same time, the population of the town will continue to gradually get greyer and greyer.

It is still encouraging to see that they expect the student population to grow slowly in Riverview. This means that they expect at least some young families to move into town. This is better than a lot of places in NB. The town itself will likely grow from (nearly) 20,000 to about 22,000 or so in the next decade. Meanwhile, Dieppe will likely hit 34,000 and Moncton might reach 80,000 during the same time frame.

The province should just amalgamate Riverview into Moncton now...it makes so much sense on so many levels from municipal government all the way down to infrastructure.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by JasonL-Moncton

The province should just amalgamate Riverview into Moncton now...it makes so much sense on so many levels from municipal government all the way down to infrastructure.

It used to make sense to amalgamate Dieppe too, but now thats a lost cause. I think that in the next 10 years, Riverview will become part of Moncton. Riverview needs to extend its boundaries south to encompass more rural area to prevent more urban sprawl.

[MonctonRad]

from News 91.9:

Fire damages Riverview restaurant

Electrical issue believed to be cause of blaze at Five Bridges Bar and Grill
Jason Chevrier
Mar 13, 2014 11:52:31 AM

RIVERVIEW, N.B. – A stubborn fire this morning has resulted in moderate damage to a Riverview restaurant.

Crews were called to Five Bridges Bar and Grill at a plaza on Pine Glen Road around 8 a.m. this morning.

Maintenance workers clearing snow spotted smoke and fire inside the restaurant and called 9-1-1.

Fire chief Denis Pleau says they doused the flames quickly, but spent about two hours making sure the fire didn’t spread as it was in the attick area of the plaza.

“It’s one attic over multiple businesses. Therefore, we had to gain access to every business and cut holes into the ceiling to find out if the fire had spread into their areas.”

No one was hurt.

The cause of the fire is believed to be electrical.

The restaurant will be closed until the mess is cleaned up.

Personal note - This plaza is old and fairly decrepit looking. I wonder if any thought has ever been given to razing it and building anew…….

[MonctonRad]

It was mentioned in the T&T today that Pita Pit will be opening a location in the Findlay Park area of Riverview this summer.

With the other announced locations, this should be the fifth Pita Pit franchise in metro Moncton…….

[MonctonRad]

The town of Riverview has issued an RFP for a "feasibility study" for the proposed community wellness centre which possibly may be built in the Mill Creek Nature Park.

The proposed centre may include ice surfaces, a pool, an indoor walking track, other fitness features as well as community meeting space and a cafe.

The study will look at conceptual development, possible partnerships and business models for the development.

About $85,000 has been budgeted for this part of the process…….

The wellness centre would be the larger building with the circular roof feature in this rendering of the proposed Mill Creek development:

[josh_cat_eyes]

I think when this gets built that the Dieppe Comandoes will move to Riverview. It would be more central for Monctons population and I think Riverview would support the team better then Dieppe has.