2008-07-07_Supplemental Agenda Packet--Dossier de l'ordre du jour supplémentaireCity of Saint John
Common Council Meeting
Monday July 7, 2008
Supplemental Agenda
Re: 9.2 Petition in Opposition to Proposed Re-zoning 7 Pokiok Rd.
12(a) Letter from Harour Station in Opposition to Skateboard Park
City of Saint John
Seance du Conseil communal
Le lundi 7 juillet 2008
Ordre du jour supplementaire
Objet : 9.2 Petition d'opposition au projet de rezonage de la propriete
situee au 7 chemin Pokiok
12.4(a) Lettre de Harbour Station d'opposition relatives au
planchodrome
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` ATTENTION: Common Council -City of Saint John
SUBJECT: Application for rezoning by Gerald Webster & Matrix
Management
We the residents of Pokiok Road and surrounding areas collectively oppose
the application for rezoning 7 Pokiok Road. We feel construction on that
site should meet R-2 zoning requirements, one or two family dwellings.
The construction of the proposed townhouses does not blend with the
existing buildings in the neighbourhood.
NAME
ADDRESS
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July 4, 2008
~~~~ ~r ~.~~t~ ~i~~,~„ Mayor Ivan Court and Members of Common Council
City of Saint John
Saint I<>~~~~ PO Box 1971
Saint John, NB
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Your Worship and Councillors:
'Te1(5o6) 63~-61o:i We understand that your Council will be considering its position with
respect to the skateboard park proposed for the area adjacent to Harbour
~~' ' ~!~'`' `' ~-' ''' ` Station. At our Commission meeting today, we had an opportunity to hear
from proponents of the skateboard park. We appreciate their sincere
efforts and determination to provide a new recreational facility in our
community. The volunteers involved are to be congratulated for their
work. As a result of their presentation and your upcoming consideration of
the proposal, I have been directed to write to you on behalf of the
Commission.
As you know, the Harbour Station Commission is responsible by
legislation for the operation of the Harbour Station arena as well as the
adjacent parking lot. At the present time, the parking lot is fully occupied
with monthly parkers and represents a significant source of revenue for
our facility which permits us to minimize the investment required by the
City of Saint John and participating municipalities through the Regional
Facilities Commission in our annual operations. It is also an important
source of revenue for our major tenant, the Saint John Sea Dogs, on game
nights.
The Harbour Station Commission has expressed its concerns with respect
to the skateboard park proposal to representatives of the City of Saint John
on a number of previous occasions (copy attached) based on our
experience as the pilot site for the project.
Although we appreciate the efforts made by the proponents to address
concerns which have been raised by our organization, due to its location
on our parking lot, the proposal will result in the loss of approximately
thirty-five (35) monthly and day of event parking spots with a direct
financial impact to this facility of approximately $35,000.00 per year. This
direct cost is in addition to whatever indirect losses may occur if security
and vandalism concerns are not addressed and additional monthly parkers
are lost.
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The Entertainment Centre of Atlantic Canada
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In our experience, building a facility represents, in some ways, the easy
part of the challenge. The efforts to operate and maintain these assets
require extraordinary commitment and discipline from a community. As
we have noted previously, the cost of operations and managing the related
liabilities require a significant investment of time and money. We are
extremely proud of Harbour Station's reputation for excellent operations
and maintenance and would expect nothing less of any adjacent facility.
The volunteer proponents have offered those assurances that they are able
to but ultimately, as owners, this facility and its operations will rest with
your staff. There are, in our view, significant challenges for them in order
to realise on the operating vision of the proponents and the volunteers that
they represent.
In our view, we would be neglecting our mandate by not alerting you to
both our ongoing concerns about operations and the broader financial
consequences of a decision to proceed. Naturally, we will continue to
work in a co-operative manner with all stakeholders to pursue the best
interests of our Region.
Yours truly,
Harbour Station Commission
Peter Klohn
Chairperson
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Common Clerk's Office
Bureau,du greffier communal
www.saintjohn.ca
P.O. Box/C.P. 1971
Saint John, NB/N.-B.
Canada E2L 4L1
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The City of Saint John
December 21, .2004
Mr. John Correia
Secretary-Treasurer
Harbour Station
99 Station Street
Saint John, NB
E2L 4X4
Dear Sir:
At a meeting of the Gommon Council, held on December 6, 2004, the
following resolution was adopted, namely:-
"RESOLVED that the letter from Harbour Station Commission expressing
concern over the potential loss of parking spaces to the proposed skateboard
park be received for information."
Yours truly,
Elizabeth Gormley
Assistant Common Clerk
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Thursday, September 02, 2004
99 Station Street
Saint John
New Brunswick
Canada E2L 4X4
Tel (506) 632-6103
Fax (506) 632-6121
Email mailC~harbourstarion.nb.ca
www.harboursration.nb.ca
Bernie Morrison
Director, Recreation and Parks
City of Saint John
PO Box 1971
Saint John, NB E2L 4L1
Dear Mr. Morrison:
Re: Proposed Skateboard Park
On behalf of the Harbour Station Commission, I would like to thank you and the
Fundy Skateboard Association for the numerous presentations on the proposed
skateboard park in Saint John. We certainly recognize the need for providing new
recreation avenues for the City's youth; however, as discussed the Harbour Station
Commission is not in agreement with the proposed site.- The area that is being
proposed is currently used by Harbour Station for parking, from ,which the facility nets
$200,000 per year. This area is also configured to provide an exit to reduce traffic
congestion onto Station Street from the west end lot during busy times for hockey
and major concerts. ,
In June of 2002, as good corporate sponsors Harbour Station permitted the Saint
John Skateboard Association to utilize an area in the east parking lot. During the
three weeks it operated there the facility sustained enough damage that it became
necessary to request that the skateboarding be relocated. In that timeframe Harbour
Station incurred over $2000 in damages, numerous break-ins, patron harassment, as
well as damage to the marquee.
During your presentation Bernie, your group indicated that the City of Saint John
would be responsible for the operating costs of the park once it is constructed.
Having been advised by representatives from the City of Calgary that they invest
more than $200,000 a year to operate their park, which includes lighting, graffiti
removal, staffing, concrete and washroom repairs, as well as programming; we also
have concerns about the viability of ongoing maintenance being carried out if the
park is completed.
As stated at the last two meetings, the Harbour Station Commission is requesting
that the proposed location be re-evaluated; we are not in support of having this
activity within the Harbour Station parking lot. Please do not hesitate to contact me
if you require any additional information.
Sincerely,
HARBOUR STATION COMMISSION
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John Correia
Secretary-Treasurer
cc: Saint John Common Council
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