The Town of Rothesay has decided not to roll out the welcome mat for retail giant Wal-Mart, at least not yet.
The company has wanted to build a store in the community east of Saint John for several months, but in a close vote Monday night, town council decided not to rezone the proposed site. The company can apply to Rothesay again in one year.
Approximately 50 people turned out to hear council's decision. Three councillors voted in favour of amending Rothesay's municipal plan, and four voted against it.
Mary-Alice Glasgow lives close to where the store would have been built. She says she lost a lot of sleep leading up to this decision.
"I'm so happy, and so relieved. We were against the rezoning. We were against the change to the municipal plan, and we were against a company like Wal-Mart moving into our neighbourhood."
Wal-Mart Canada spokesman Yanik Deschenes says the company put a lot of work into designing the store to fit Rothesay's historic character and he believes a silent majority of people in town supported the company.
"But obviously now we're really disappointed, knowing that two-thirds of the people in Rothesay are in favour of this project. So it's a sad night tonight for Rothesay."
Deschenes wouldn't say if Wal-Mart will make a pitch to the neighbouring Town of Quispamsis.
Share Tools
Latest New Brunswick News Headlines
- N.B. firefighters warned of lawsuit threat
- Firefighters need more protection against legal action, according to a former chief in New Brunswick. more »
- Armed robbery at Saint John gas bar
- There was an armed robbery at a Saint John, N.B., gas station Friday night. more »
- Cataractes advance to Memorial Cup final by beating Sea Dogs
- Yannick Veilleux broke a tie at 13:14 of the third period as the host Shawinigan Cataractes upset the defending champion Saint John Sea Dogs 7-4 in the semifinal of the Mastercard Memorial Cup on Friday night. more »
- 4 arrests in Elsipogtog drug trafficking case
- Four people are facing charges in connection with a two-month long investigation into prescription drug trafficking on Elsipogtog First Nation. more »
Top News Headlines
- Lisa Raitt closer to ending CP Rail strike
- Labour Minister Lisa Raitt is prepared to end the Canadian Pacific Rail strike if necessary, after both CP Rail and the union rejected a proposal for voluntary arbitration by the government-appointed negotiator on Sunday. Raitt tells CBC News she is "extremely disappointed." more »
- Syrian regime denies role in Houla massacre
- The UN Security Council condemned the Syrian regime at an emergency meeting Sunday, holding president Bashar al-Assad's military responsible for the massacre of more than 100 people, dozens of whom were children younger than 10 years old. more »
- Ryder Hesjedal wins prestigious Giro d'Italia
- Victoria, B.C., native Ryder Hesjedal has become the first Canadian to win one of the cycling world's three Grand Tour events, wrapping up the 2012 Giro d'Italia with an excellent performance in the final stage in Milan. more »
- Neighbour may have helped find missing kids in Mexico
- Two Winnipeg children who had been missing for nearly four years were found in Mexico after a man raised concerns about his neighbour, according to a private investigator. more »
- N.B. firefighters warned of lawsuit threat
- 'Suspicious' fire destroys former school in Marysville
- Armed robbery at Saint John gas bar
- David Alward worried about EI changes
- 4 arrests in Elsipogtog drug trafficking case
- Woman robs store in Tracadie-Sheila
- Loose dog prevents mail delivery to area residents
- Nickelback heading to Moncton this summer
- Pension snafu may erode public trust, says Norton
