Courtesy City of Moncton
Moncton City Council has rejected a proposal from a developer to add 365 parking spaces in the downtown at the former Co-Op location.
Slate Office REIT, owners of the Blue Cross Centre, wanted additional parking spots for many clients in the building who are on a lengthy waiting list.
Mayor Dawn Arnold said while she met with Slate officials in Toronto and appreciated compromises staff had made on the proposal, she couldn’t support it.
“We are at a critical tipping point tight now. By permitting another surface parking lot, we are working against the goals of our density and vibrancy that we have just articulated non-stop.”
Arnold says the city has not done enough to encourage alternative forms of transportation such as cycling, using public transit or even car pooling.
By a vote of 7 to 4, Moncton City Council struck down the proposal.
Besides Mayor Arnold, Councillors Pierre Boudreau, Charles Leger, Paulette Theriault, Shawn Crossman, Paul Pellerin and Brian Hicks also said no.
Councillors Blair Lawrence, Greg Turner, Bryan Butler, and Susan Edgett said yes to the proposal.
