Horticultural Society: Pipes already in ground, develop Rockwood

The Mayor Ivan Court chaired Rockwood Park advisory board and the Saint John Horticultural Society are reported as being in favour of developing land that has been used as part of Rockwood park by hikers, cyclists and nature enthusiasts for decades.

According to the Telegraph Journal the Horticultural Society said that due to the City having already spent money to service Sandy Point Road, development of houses along Sandy Point road should be allowed. 

Sure that money was spent before “consulting” the public on Rockwood Park land uses, but what are you going to do.  Lesson for City: spend money on projects before they are approved so you can use that spending as justification for approving your projects.

I didn’t realize it was in the mandate of the Horticultural Society to maximize the utility of municipal water and sewerage lines, but I guess this factor came into play.  Though, to be fair, the park is funded by the same pot of money as these  pipes that were laid (before consultations on developing Rockwood Park occurred).

As much as I’d prefer the traditional (though perhaps not legal) boundary of Rockwood Park to be respected, at least these groups are calling for a formalization of the park border that will extend beyond the narrowly defined border currently being flogged by the pro-development crowd.  Also, the Society is calling for the funds raised by selling park land to go back into the park.