Well, this is interesting.......
Moncton wanted a new neighbourhood behind Robert Irving's stables. Then he bought the land
City planned new parks, streets, homes and apartment buildings estimated to generate millions in tax revenue
Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Aug 18, 2020 6:00 AM AT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-b...hood-1.5689076
So, it appears the city's plan for a whole new neighbourhood south of Humphrey Brook is off the table.
The CBC has not come out and said it, but the intimation is that Irving bought the land to protect his stables and for privacy purposes. The land that he bought amounts to at least 50% of the area of the Humphrey Brook Plan.
Irving was certainly in his right to purchase this land. There is nothing here that appears shady, and no zoning issues are being raised. I think a question should be asked why the city spent so much money developing a plan for this area when the local landowners and developers apparently were not fully on board with the concept. Another point is that Ecole Champlain was relocated to this area in part because of the anticipated development of this new neighbourhood. Overall, this is an example of a misfire on the part of the city's planning department.
Make no mistake, the plan they came up with was visionary, they just didn't seem to take into account that the land could be sold from under them and that all their efforts could come to naught.........