Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission Senior Planner Alex Henderson joined CHCO-TV anchors Vicki Hogarth and Nathalie Sturgeon for a public discussion on the town’s updated municipal plan on an episode of This Week Uncut. He reminded residents that the plan differs from zoning bylaws, serving instead as a roadmap for services, infrastructure, and long-term community vision. The current plan, adopted in 2020, is undergoing its five-year review, a process accelerated by municipal reform that brought Bayside and Chamcook into St. Andrews’ jurisdiction.

The draft addresses priorities ranging from protecting Chamcook Lake, the community’s only drinking water source, to strengthening accessibility with safer streets and wider shoulders. Henderson said feedback has also pressed for meaningful recognition of Indigenous history, such as safeguarding archeological sites. Other areas of focus include limits on short-term rentals to protect year-round housing and measures to balance farmland preservation with residential growth in rural areas. 

St. Stephen Council Hears Objections

St. Stephen council, meanwhile, convened a hearing on the proposed Zoning Bylaw Z-4. The meeting drew a full room, though only three residents spoke. Concerns centred on wind energy development, blasting setbacks, and preserving rural traditions. One resident called for a public “response matrix” to track how comments are incorporated, while another suggested forming a rural advisory subcommittee. Under provincial rules, council could not respond during the hearing; staff will log objections, and any amendments will return through the bylaw’s three readings before a final vote.

The Future of the St. Andrews Wharf

Market Wharf in St. Andrews also drew attention, with project timelines and costs shifting significantly. While federal deadlines had previously been understood as March 2026, officials confirmed that substantial completion is not required until October 2033, with provincial timelines stretching to March 2027. Construction bids also far exceeded earlier estimates. A project once projected at $7.5 million saw tenders ranging from $9.5 million to $17 million. Council must now consider options: moving ahead over budget, redesigning in phases, or reassessing the project entirely.

Closing the week on a lighter note, the County Moose junior hockey team made its debut. Coached by Kyle Adams, the team dropped its first exhibition game to Woodstock but drew strong community support. Billets and volunteers remain in demand as the season begins.