Developer Seeks Permission to Build 140 Apartments in Riverview
RIVERVIEW – A local developer wants to bring 140 apartments to Buckingham Avenue in Riverview.
Some members of council first heard about the development at last week’s Committee of the Whole meeting, where it voted to move forward with a rezoning process.
Kirk Brewer, a planner with the Southeast Regional Service Commission, said the matter has not yet reached first reading before Riverview Town Council – it has to go through a Planning Advisory Committee meeting, public hearings, and additional readings from council.
Brewer presented the proposal on behalf of the developer, Diallo Properties, as a request to rezone an R1 single-unit home density zone into a multi-unit, residential R3 zone.
Diallo Properties is the same company behind a 28-unit North End Moncton apartment building at 461 Ryan Street.
“We’re looking to do the same thing we did on Ryan Street, an affordable apartment building,” said Yero Diallo, owner of Diallo Properties.
Diallo said he hopes to begin construction on the apartments on Buckingham next summer, if approved by council.
If the proposal is approved, the 2.6-hectare wooded parcel of land Diallo Properties aims to develop will potentially be home to two 70-unit apartment buildings rising as high as four stories.
Part of the ask from Diallo Properties was a variance to allow for four stories.
Presenting to council, Brewer said part of Diallo Properties’ plan is to maintain the existing buffer of mature trees and to build the apartments at an adequate distance [more than 15 metres] to maintain division between the development and nearby homes.
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“Given the tree buffers and the additional building setback, staff consider this a reasonable request,” Brewer told council.
Traffic and Privacy
Councillors raised concerns with the proposed development’s impacts on nearby residents and traffic levels on Buckingham.
Councillor Jeremy Thorne said he’s already heard from a Buckingham resident opposed to the project, who cite privacy concerns.
“The buffers are fine but they don’t offer full protection, even with old-growth trees that are going in, you are going to be able to see straight through from backyards to that building area,” Thorne said.
“I think it’s a beautiful design but I don’t think it’s a good fit for the area. I’m open to other proposals from developers.”
Thorne and Councillor Russell Hayward cited specific concern over the anticipated addition of 100-150 cars to traffic on Buckingham – an area already known for speeding and congestion issues.
“In the summertime, all the ball fields are active; you’re going to add probably 150 vehicles to that congestion already. We have a lot of issues with parents picking up students at the high school and that congestion will add another 150-plus cars on top of that again,” said Councillor Russell Hayward.
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“All the residents on both sides have complained about the amount of traffic on Buckingham at peak times,” Russell added, suggesting the use of traffic calming measures.
Councillor John Coughlan stressed the need for more housing and more affordable housing in the community, showing support for the apartments.
“I really support having more diverse kinds of housing in this town – and affordable housing,” Coughlan said, suggesting a solution to traffic issues would be a set off traffic lights at the end of the road.
Brewer told Huddle that council will decide whether or not to move forward on the potential development at its upcoming March 13 meeting.
Sam Macdonald is a Huddle reporter in Moncton. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].
Editor’s note: This story was last updated on March 9, at 11:35 a.m.