Published Tuesday March 24th, 2009
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/search/article/612895
A public hearing of objections to a zoning amendment and subdivision to permit a Costco store at the Corbett Centre retail development on Regent Street will be held by Fredericton city council April 14.
Two weeks later, councillors are slated to cast their final vote on third reading to determine the store’s fate.
As the property owner, the University of New Brunswick is making the application to the city for the zoning approvals needed to allow the project to go forward.
Long before the first store, the 42,390-square-metre (471,000-square-foot) Home Depot was built at the 18-hectare (45-acre) Corbett Centre property, Costco had been identified as a retailer of interest to UNB and its partners.
UNB is working with Terrain Group of Moncton, an engineering, planning and surveying firm, to help it do site preparation of its land and with Ontario’s Trinity Development Group Inc. and its partner RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust to attract retailers.
Costco signed a letter of intent with UNB in the fall of 2008, but hasn’t yet announced a construction date for a Fredericton project.
“Yes, we still have an interest in entering the Fredericton market and the Saint John market as well. At this point, that’s all that I can comment on,” said Ron Damiani, Costco Canada spokesman in Ottawa, in a recent interview.
Due to design changes, the provincial Environment Department has required additional engineering work from Terrain Group to show how it will manage storm water flows from the property and surrounding land.
Local environmental activists are opposed to any further development on the site and want UNB to protect its woodlot holdings from any type of commercial development.
