Vision Lands in Moncton, NB, could be developed soon

On the north side of Moncton is a very large area of ​​dense trees and unused space. It is called Vision Lands and has been a topic of conversation for twenty years.

But as Moncton has claimed the title of one of the fastest-growing communities in the country over the past two years, Josh Davies, manager of the city’s Long Range Policy Planning Team, says now is the time for development.

“The Vision Lands would be one part of the broader strategy, but it would certainly be one that could accommodate a significant amount of residential commercial development over the next 25 years,” Davies said.

“We are working on a plan specifically for the western portion of Vision Lands. We want to develop a zoning plan, a traffic and transportation network, active transportation, and a regional park to ultimately create a new community within the city of Moncton.”

Vision Lands covers approximately 1,400 hectares between Wheeler Boulevard, The Trans Canada Highway, Mapleton Road, Mortan Avenue and McLaughlin Drive.

According to Davies, the focus is currently only on the western part of the area, which covers 650 hectares of the total area of ​​1,400 hectares.

“We are in the process of doing a master plan, where we are going to our council to ask for a zoning amendment to lay out the street network to provide guidance for the development of this area,” he said.

The idea is to create a new community in Greater Moncton where people can work, live and play, while meeting the growing needs in the city.

“Unfortunately, we are in a housing crisis, which is why our vacancy rate is 1.2 percent, which is very low,” said Xavier Infantas, interim CEO of the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce.

“Having this project in our hands will somehow alleviate the crisis and give not only the residents of Greater Moncton but also newcomers the opportunity to settle and have a place.”

Infantas says the chamber is very supportive of this development project and hopes that work can begin soon.

“I think this is going to be an impactful project. This is going to be one of the great examples of how a residential and commercial model can merge and at the same time protect the natural habitat,” he said.

“If there are opportunities for businesses to locate in these areas, that is a great opportunity. Not only for existing businesses in the Greater Moncton area, but also for new businesses that want to relocate and explore the possibility of residing here.”

Recently, the City of Moncton conducted a survey to get feedback from the community on how they would like the site to be developed.

Updated information, including the results of the study and the latest plans, has been added to the letschatmoncton.ca page.

According to the website, the emerging theme was that Vision Lands should “provide a unique and complete neighborhood experience that prioritizes environmental and recreational infrastructure with a market-driven housing model that supports inclusive and equitable living.”

Davies says: “We are looking at potentially up to 42,000 residents who could live in the Vision Lands, which equates to approximately 18,000 residential units comprising of land-based housing, such as single-family homes, semi-detached homes, townhouses, through to multi-unit apartments and larger, almost tower-like structures.”

However, he says there are a number of things that need to happen before the shovel can hit the ground, including:

• consolidating the western part into the broader Vision Lands plan
• working with landowners and the public
• request the council to submit an application for rezoning of the zoning
• confirm a cost sharing agreement

He adds that it is hoped that financial support will come from both the provincial and federal governments and that groundbreaking could take place in the next three to five years.

“This plan, and if it is successful, will really be the instrument that gets the ball rolling and we can really put the shovel in the ground, because the destiny will change and we will have the rulebook,” Davies said.

“We have the playbook in front of us to really make this development possible. From an administrative standpoint, this was the really big key to developing the rest of these areas.”

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