A rezoning for a proposed parking lot at Saint John’s Wolastoq Park will face another public hearing.
Irving Pulp & Paper has submitted a revised application to rezone part of the west side park.
Saint John council held a special meeting Thursday night to schedule a new public hearing for April 3.
A spokesperson for J.D. Irving, Ltd. said they have worked with city staff to clarify aspects of their application.
“There have been no material changes,” Anne McInerney said in an email to our newsroom.
A city spokesperson told our newsroom they do not expect to have any new documentation to share until early next week.
RELATED: Saint John sends Wolastoq Park proposal back to staff
Irving’s initial proposal to convert 30 per cent of the park into a 500-space parking lot received mixed reviews, with city staff urging council to deny it.
The company said the parking lot is needed for a $1.1-billion expansion of its pulp and paper mill across the street.
Vice-President Mark Mosher has said that hundreds of on-site parking spaces will be displaced during the expansion due to the construction of a new recovery boiler.
Even with new spaces being created elsewhere on the mill property, it is expected that more than 500 new parking spaces will be required.
Several residents have raised concerns ranging from a loss of park space to increased traffic through an already busy Simms Corner.
RELATED: Wolastoq Park parking proposal should be denied: city staff
Municipal staff have also recommended that council deny the application, saying it goes against the city’s municipal plan.
Andy Carson, a former Irving Oil executive who spoke during February’s public hearing, said there would be interest in funding recreation elsewhere in the city.
Carson said there may also be an appetite to consider reducing the size of the parking lot once the mill expansion project is complete.
At the time, council voted to refer the application to the city’s CAO for further discussion with the proponent.
