New BrunswickMoncton council on Monday rejected a request to rezone a house in the city’s north end to allow a youth group home to move to the location, after neighbours opposed the plan. Youth Impact says it will need to find a home in another locationShane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Sep 16, 2025 7:03 AM EDT | Last Updated: September 16Youth Impact purchased this home on Acorn Court in Moncton’s north end to use as a four-bedroom group home for youth. (Google Streetview)Moncton council on Monday rejected a request to rezone a house in the city’s north end to allow a youth group home to move to the location, after neighbours opposed the plan.Youth Impact Jeunesse Inc. sought to rezone 5 Acorn Ct., a six-bedroom house, to allow a care facility with no more than four residents.A petition signed by more than 260 people, along with 69 written objections, were filed ahead of Monday’s public hearing on the rezoning on the small cul-de-sac near Evergreen Park School.Several residents who live on the court spoke at the hearing, expressing concern about traffic, how the facility could change the character of the area, and disregard for the property’s existing zoning.”The community has spoken overwhelmingly,” said Coun. Dave Steeves, a ward councillor for the area, before voting to reject the rezoning. The motion to deny the rezoning passed 7-3. Deputy Mayor Paulette Thériault along with councillors Susan Edgett and Monique LeBlanc voted in support of the rezoning. Mel Kennah, executive director of Youth Impact Jeunesse Inc., says the organization will now look for another home in the Moncton region to operate the program. (Shane Magee/CBC)Mel Kennah, executive director of Youth Impact, told reporters the organization, which operates various youth programs across the province, will now sell the house and look for another location in Moncton, Dieppe or Riverview. “This service does need to happen,” Kennah said. The organization planned to use the site for a “stabilization program” for youth aged 12 to 18 run on behalf of the Department of Social Development.A city staff report to council says the program is generally for children living with a foster or adopted family who are going through a difficult time and need additional help. They would live in the home for up to eight weeks, continuing to attend school, before either going back home or being placed in a new foster home.Kennah told council it was a calculated risk to buy the home earlier this year knowing it needed to be rezoned, but believed it was a reasonable request. He said the program had run from a location on Connaught Avenue in Moncton, but had to relocate and there were few suitable homes on the market. The rezoning was required because the land is zoned R2, or two-unit dwelling, which allows care homes up to 225 square metres in gross floor area. The house Youth Impact purchased is 315.8 square meters.Several councillors said their votes weren’t based on who would reside at the home or the work of Youth Impact.”I think this is coming down to location,” Coun. Charles Léger said.Moncton councillors Marty Kingston, Bryan Butler and Dave Steeves shown Monday with the rezoning motion vote shown on a screen behind them. (Shane Magee/CBC)People who voiced opposition Monday said they bought homes on Acorn or nearby knowing it was zoned for family homes and believed it would be a quiet location to raise their children. Julie Schofield Simard said lower traffic on a cul-de-sac led her to buy her home there six years ago and that she had no concerns letting kids go outside to play. “The daily operation of a short-term rehabilitation centre is not compatible with such a small, family-friendly cul-de-sac,” she said. Others spoke about concerns about how the youth living in the home would affect other children in the area. “I accept a group home,” Harvey Aucoin said. “I’m not against group home, but putting a group home in a court when there’s all kinds of young children ranging from the age of nine to 12, they’re gonna lose that court. They won’t be able to play in the court because the older kids from the age of 12 to 18, they’re gonna take over the court.”ABOUT THE AUTHORShane Magee is a Moncton-based reporter for CBC.
Moncton council rejects youth group home after overwhelming pushback from neighbours
