Neighbours Oppose Moncton Apartment Building
MONCTON — A proposed rezoning which would pave the way for a new four-storey, 52-unit apartment building at 1383 Ryan Street (at Augusta Terrace) is facing pushback by area residents.
Linda Runighan has lived at 1489 Ryan Street since the 1980s and has seen the area transform from a rural setting to an urban one. Runighan says the traffic on the road has become unreal which is why she collected signatures from her neighbours who are also opposed to the project.
There are three schools in the area including Northrop Frye which is across the road from the proposed apartment building.
“I walk in the morning, and the traffic is from the whole length of the road. From Augusta right out to the traffic circle, people are trying to get their kids dropped off at school,” says Runighan.
She never received a letter about the proposed rezoning and neither did many of the neighbours she canvassed.
“If the people up the road didn’t drive by that sign in the driveway, right beside Augusta, they would never know.”
Existing legislation states only those living within 100 metres are notified. The Moncton Planning Advisory Committee recently recommended that city council proceed with the rezoning which would allow an apartment building.
At a city council meeting last month, Ward 3 councillor Bryan Butler expressed concerns about traffic in the area especially with Northrop Frye School across the street.
“There are a lot of kids that cross the street from that area to go to that school. So I will certainly be up around there looking,” Butler noted.
City council gave the rezoning first reading at their June 12 regular meeting.Residents will have their say at an upcoming public hearing on July 17 at Moncton City Hall at 4 p.m. Runighan plans to be there and says several of her neighbours also plan to attend.
Allan Dearing is a reporter with 91.9 The Bend in Moncton, a Huddle content partner.