Fredericton city council voted Monday to take over the Exhibition Grounds to make way for a new school and residential development.
The proposed school, which would replace the aging George Street Middle School, would take up 4.8 hectares of the expropriated land.Â
The remaining 7.3 hectares are designated as the “housing and community portion.”
The decision was taken without the approval of a committee, known as a joint decision-making authority, made up of representatives from the city and members of Fredericton Exhibition Limited.
That committee was struck in 2021 with the goal of adding a school and housing to the site.
But the city claims after four years, that committee isn’t fit for purpose.
“The JDA has met numerous times … and no development proposals have been approved or implemented and the City is of the view that no progress has been made toward plan implementation,” the city stated in a motion to council.
Fredericton Mayor Kate Rogers said while the city ‘values and respects’ agricultural traditions in the city, seeking to expropriate the land was ‘a responsible decision.’ (Chad Ingraham/CBC)
In a statement, Fredericton Mayor Kate Rogers said while the city “values and respects” agricultural traditions, seeking to expropriate the land was “a responsible decision.”
“City council is putting the needs of our community first,” said Rogers.
Last year the city signaled it may take this route when Rogers said at a council meeting “we need to use all measures possible.”
While the city owns the site, the NBEX has a long-term lease that isn’t supposed to expire until 2032. The group also has a leasehold interest on the site. The city has instructed staff to essentially buy out that interest.
Rogers said the city will negotiate in good faith with Fredericton Exhibition Limited for compensation for the lease, which the city said is valued at almost $3.5 million.
While the vote was heavily weighted to one side, it wasn’t unanimous.
Coun. Steven Hicks, who has sat on the joint decision-making authority, was the sole dissenting vote.
“I really couldn’t be any more disappointed than I am right now,” said Hicks.
Fredericton Coun. Steven Hicks was the only councillor to vote against the move. (Aidan Cox/CBC)
Hicks said the move goes against the spirit in which the land was originally given to the exhibition almost 200 years ago — to hold an agricultural fair in perpetuity.
While he acknowledged the need for a new school and more housing, he argued these were provincial responsibilities and it should be the province who takes on the burden of expropriating.
He envisioned some tough times ahead for both the city and the exhibition.
“I’m predicting one of two things are about to happen,” said Hicks.
“We will either destroy the NBEX with this move or we’ll end up in an expensive court battle with them, or most likely both.”
Hicks moved to have the motion deferred indefinitely, but because no councillor seconded the motion, it wasn’t voted on.