New Brunswick·NewRothesay’s 1,277-unit housing development is going forward despite mixed reactions. Residents, and one councillor who voted against the project, worry about rapid population growth.Development promising 1,277 units is moving forward with mixed responseNipun Tiwari · CBC News · Posted: Aug 12, 2025 7:20 AM EDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes agoThe planned development would include housing and commercial businesses in a newly created neighbourhood. (Submitted by Landmark Living)Rothesay council is giving near unanimous approval to a large commercial and residential project that has seen pushback from some of the town’s residents. The approved proposal is for a mixed-use development that would add roughly 1,277 units over 20 years to a commercial and residential area near the highway. The project is by developer Ali Kamkar, who moved to New Brunswick six years ago. Kamkar said his project came from what he calls a need in the area for a better mix of housing. Greg Zwicker, an urban planner speaking on behalf of developer Ali Kamkar, said it was a good decision by the council and said the people behind the project are excited.”There’s always going to be some contentious matters and some struggles for the town as we grow,” Zwicker said.”We need to bring some new development into the town. So it’s a good spot for it. We’re excited and it’s going to be a great plan eventually … There’s going to be concerns and construction and noise for a few years. We’ll do our best to control and monitor that as we go along.” Residents opposed to the project packed the town’s council chamber for the vote Monday night, with some standing against the wall. (Nipun Tiwari/CBC)The development by Landmark 661 Ltd. will include a mix of commercial businesses and apartment buildings, townhouses and single-family homes. It will happen in five phases, starting with six, four-storey apartment buildings with 427 residential units. It will be on what is currently a wooded area at the corner of Millennium and Campbell drives near the Atlantic Superstore and Kent Building Supplies store.Project moves forward with amendmentsThe site is also near some residential neighbourhoods including one on Wedgewood Drive. Some residents of the area oppose the project saying the growth would be too large over too short a period for the town of about 12,000. Residents are also concerned about impacts from tree clearing and traffic increases to their neighbourhoods.Many residents near the area also use groundwater — accessed through wells — as their source of potable water, according to some of the numerous letters submitted to the town’s council.This largely wooded area with a wetland is the proposed site for a retail and housing development that would add 1,277 units to the town. (Roger Cosman/CBC)The agreement for the project to move forward includes new provisions so that clear cutting of trees is “only done to that which is necessary to facilitate construction of and servicing of the phase under development” said the town’s deputy mayor Matt Alexander, reading the added amendments aloud. The town will also zone the connecting area between the proposed neighbourhood and Wedgewood Drive as a “recreation zone,” meaning it will be a pedestrian-only connection, to mitigate potential for increased vehicle traffic in the neighbourhood. A third amendment asks the developer to do a groundwater assessment or create a water contingency plan before the first phase of construction begins. The town’s mayor, Nancy Grant, said she was pleased with the direction of the proposal and praised the amendments added by the deputy mayor. (Nipun Tiwari/CBC)The town’s mayor, Nancy Grant, who didn’t vote, praised the amendments brought forward by the deputy mayor. Grant said the development will be a place for “all ages and stages [of life]” by being a walkable neighbourhood near services and businesses, which she said will have an effect on the community’s health.”I particularly like the opportunity for ‘aging in place’ that will be there and all the downstream positive benefits that will have on health-care system,” Grant said. “The increase in the tax base will provide for increased services and better services for the whole community.” Coun. Dave Brown voted against the project saying the growth would be too large for the small town in such a short time. (Nipun Tiwari/CBC)One councillor, Dave Brown, opposed the development, saying the project would bring too much growth too quickly. The new units, he said, could increase the population of the town of about 12,000 by roughly an additional 3,000 people.”I mean it’s 1,277 units … that’s almost 25 per cent of the people around here right now in one spot,” Brown said.”I don’t feel this is something I am going to support.” Residents said they don’t feel heard. “It’s clearly disheartening,” said resident John Dinan.”We were given very short notice for a public hearing back in July and it was quite clear from today that the decision was made without any public input at all.”Nick Landry, who has lived in the area for eight years, expressed similar sentiments. Landry, who has experienced flooding due to wetlands near his home on Wedgewood Drive, said he fears the development will make issues worse. Nick Landry, a resident who has lived in the area for eight years, says residents feel mischaracterized as being anti-development. (Mark Leger/CBC)Landry said residents feel mischaracterized as anti-development and that he and others appreciate some of the amendments, particularly those relating to ground water. “But we do feel that the scale and scope of the development doesn’t fit the town,” he said.Another councillor, Don Shea, didn’t take part in the vote due to a declared conflict of interest.ABOUT THE AUTHORNipun Tiwari is a reporter assigned to community engagement and based in Saint John, New Brunswick. He can be reached at nipun.tiwari@cbc.ca.
Major Rothesay development moves forward with amendments to mitigate impacts
