Moncton drafting new vision for riverfront
Moncton is taking a closer look at the city's riverfront.
"We really want to make the riverfront a destination and a must-see and a must-do experience in Moncton," Kevin Silliker, the city's director of economic development, said in an interview.
City council unanimously voted Tuesday without debate to award a contract worth $164,950 to Trace Planning and Design, based on scoring and price, for a riverfront master plan.
The cost was less than the $210,000 the city budgeted to spend.
Silliker said the plan will include public consultation over the coming months to develop a vision of what can be added or improved along the Petitcodiac River, from the border with Dieppe west to the Brenda Robertson Bridge.
Moncton's waterfront along the Petitcodiac River in 2021. A consultant will look at recreational activities, entertainment, as well as food and beverage opportunities. The plan will also keep areas protected as green spaces. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
Silliker said places such as the skateboard park and baseball fields would remain.
"The intention is not to redevelop those, but it's to enhance other areas that are underdeveloped or not well-programmed or are not well-planned," he said.
Some areas that could be redeveloped include the old fire station along Assumption Boulevard, or the city-owned parking lot directly across the street from the courthouse.
Silliker said the consultant will look at things like recreational activities, entertainment, as well as food and beverage opportunities. However, the plan will also keep areas protected as green spaces.
Asked if the city is looking for residential or commercial development as part of the plan, Silliker said the city owns most of the property that will be studied. The privately held land will remain free to be developed in accordance with zoning rules, he said.
"We're not going to expand that zoning to allow more developable kind of buildings and whatnot," Silliker said.
"It's more the public space, the public amenities, and recreational and entertainment space or natural environment that we're trying to get at and master plan and make it more of a destination."
Consultation with elected officials and the public is expected over the summer, with the final plan likely going back to council for approval by early 2025.
Silliker said the plan will likely set out ideas for things the city could do over the coming five to 10 years, but it would still require money to be added to annual budgets to implement.
