Mixed reaction from Moncton City Council during a rezoning application for a parcel of land at 358 Ryan Road.
An introduction was delivered by Urban Planner Dylan Geldart during Monday night’s City Council meeting.
Diallo Development obtained approval from the City in February 2024 to rezone the property to allow for a 24-unit townhouse development.
Geldart said that since then, the applicant has stated it has encountered unforeseen economic challenges due to higher construction and borrowing costs. Therefore, the landowner decided that under current conditions, the development is not feasible.
Newly revised plans were submitted to the City, to construct a three-storey, 47-unit apartment building instead. This requires the land to be rezoned again to accommodate the project.
The proposed apartment building would consist of studio apartments, one-bedroom apartments, and two-bedroom apartments. The development
In the proposal, Diallo Development stated the development would likely be an attractive housing option for newcomers or existing residents in the area looking to downsize from larger homes but still wishing to stay in their neighbourhood.
“I’m really kind of getting a little tired of these people coming and wanting things changed like this within a year. Things haven’t changed that much since 2024 but the cost of this land will go up,” Councillor Bryan Butler expressed.
He also stated that he would hope there would be plans for affordable housing as well.
“We’re hearing more and more about the fact that we’ve certainly been successful in building apartments, but we’re not very successful in townhouses and single-family dwellings and even apartments with three and four-bedroom units. So all of a sudden we had, a townhouse development. It’s less pressure, and then all of a sudden we have this whole discussion around, now it needs to be an apartment. So I have that concern,” stated Councillor Charles Leger.
Moncton City Council passed the introduction of the rezoning unanimously, and they will now be referred to the Planning Advisory Committee.
Following that, a Public Hearing is to be held on March 17 at 4 pm Moncton Council Chambers at City Hall.
