Council paves way for bigger train yard in west Saint John, but seeks noise information

Saint John city council hastaken the first step to allow a 32-acre train yard and railway operation on the city's west side.

Councillors approved first and second readingsof a rezoning application after a four-hour meetingMonday night, but say theyneed more information on noise monitoring and enforcement.

The operation in question, dubbed the Lancaster Logistics Park,will be an extension of an existing industrial park on Dever Road. Once built, itwill first betransferring containers between rail cars to tractor-trailers, with a more long-term goal of becoming a terminal to receive goods from the United States and Central Canada to transport tolocal businesses.

If approved, the company in charge, J. D. Irving Ltd., will need to constructa 1,000-foot berm and a noise-blocking wall made up of shipping containers.

On Monday,councillors heard from four residents objecting to the project, most saying a train yard will take a toll on the neighbourhood's property values and quality of life because of noiseand increased truck traffic.

Attending the meeting by teleconference, Paul O'Neill saidhe owns a daycare in the neighbourhood and is worriedabout the possible impacts of a more active train yard.

"When the trains are connecting and banging, you can't stop the ground from shaking no matter what kind of wall we put up," he said.

Ian Simpson, general manager at NB SouthernRailways, said if the expansion goes ahead, tracks will be redesigned to include longer trains. Longer trains will mean less switching between tracks and less noise and vibration.

Dave Ryan, who also lives in the neighbourhood, said he's already awakened early at 2:30 or 3 a.m.by train whistles and worries this will increase.

"I'm normally up at four in the morning, but three o'clock in the morning, just a little too early for me," he said.

According to a study commissioned by J. D. Irving, once construction is done, sound levels at homes south of Dever Road will be no greater than the current ambient sound levels of 50 to 55 decibels.

The planning advisory committee was in charge of having apublic consultation. Members of the committee unanimously approved sending theplan to council, buttwo members said Monday they would not have approved the project if they knewongoingnoise monitoring was not a guarantee.

On Monday, city manager John Collin said if council approved first and second meeting, staff wouldbring more information about noise monitoring before the vote onthird reading.

Noise mitigation

Speaking on behalf of Irving, Rick Turner said the company is spending $5 million on sound mitigation and beautification.

Wayne Power,vice-president of the J.D. Irving transportation and logistics division,called this project a "critical part of the supply chain," that includes Port Saint John.He said it will create 47 more jobs, and transporting goods by train is more efficient and produces less pollution.

Coun. Joanna Killen pointed out theberm will take 15 years to reach its full size because it includes treesand asked why the noise wall is only expected to be built in one area and not around the entire operation.

Collin said Irving officials told planners a wall around the entire operation would be "prohibitively expensive."

Traffic impact

Simpson said the Dever Road should expect an increase of truck traffic to up to 40 trucks a day. The road currently sees 10 a day from the operation.

Councillors also heard supportfrom representatives of Port Saint John and regional growth agency Envision Saint John.

Andrew Dixon, on behalf ofPort Saint John, said this train yard expansion will work hand-in-hand with the multimillion-dollar expansion project of the port.