We, the concerned residents of New Glasgow, are writing to convey our strong disapproval to the proposed rezoning of our residential neighbourhood to accommodate the construction of a long-term care facility.  This letter is to petition the Town of New Glasgow and the Province of Nova Scotia to not re-zone the current residential LOT 22 Chestnut Street and to not build a long-term care facility in this residential area in New Glasgow.

The residents agree that Pictou County, like the rest of Nova Scotia, is in need of additional long-term care facilities. Community members value and appreciate residents of these facilities. However, we wholeheartedly disagree with the location chosen for the facility. The underhanded process employed by the Town thus far is unacceptable and unfair to residents who feel mislead and manipulated by the Town.

On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, residents of Ward 3 were blindsided when we learned, via a news outlet, that the town Planning Advisory Committee completed their review for a potential long-term care facility to be located on Chestnut Street and presented a proposal to rezone this land at a first reading. Community members are extremely disappointed with the Town of New Glasgow’s Mayor, CAO, and Councillors. Their recommendation to the Province of Nova Scotia to place a long-term care facility in the middle of a residential neighbourhood is detrimental to our community. It is important to note that the proposed facility will replace a current long-term care facility and will house a smaller number of residents, meaning less staff/jobs and loss of beds for seniors who need them.

The town of New Glasgow has not adhered to general bylaw provision 16.1 whereas property owners within 60 metres of the subject property must be notified of variance application in accordance with section 509(1) of the Municipal Government Act, RNS 1998, c 18 (“Act”).  Property owners within 60 metres of the subject property were not notified in accordance with the Act. Now, after we’ve started to voice our concerns, the Town is scrambling to provide information to us on Thursday, May 30. 

We deem that this rezoning application not only threatens the integrity of our community, children, and homes, but also disregards the needs and preferences of its residents. There are social, environmental, financial, health, and safety implications of this decision that will impact the community. Below are a few core reasons for opposing the rezoning:

PROPERTY VALUES: The introduction of a Long-Term Care facility would have a detrimental effect on property values in our neighborhood. Our property values will drop during the 3–10-year construction process, causing potential buyers to be deterred by the presence of such construction, leading to decreased demand and lower home prices for current residents. 

SAFETY: Many of us have invested our life in this neighborhood for our children due to its quiet, peaceful nature. Rezoning for a Long-Term Care Facility will produce an influx of traffic in our already congested neighborhood. This extra traffic poses safety risks for residents, including children who walk to and from school on streets without sidewalks. 

 There are also a number of autistic individuals in the immediate vicinity whose families chose this area for safety reasons. Their families have indicated that the rezoning and placement of a Long-Term Care Facility would increase safety risks exponentially. for these individuals as well as residents of all ages and conditions.

COMMUNITY DISRUPTION AND HEALTH CONCERNS: We live in a close-knit community where families have put down roots and built their lives. Rezoning for any reason would disrupt this cohesion, potentially leading to the displacement of families and the erosion of our neighborhood's social fabric. Not to mention the negative impact that the years of industrial construction can have on the health and wellness of the community residents. 

In light of these concerns, our plea is that the Town of New Glasgow reconsider the proposed rezoning and halt any further progress on this plan. We urge the Town to consider the short and longer-term implications for the health and mental well-being of Ward 3. We implore the Town to seek alternative solutions that respect the integrity of residential neighborhoods and meet the needs of all community members. Our democratic rights and voiced concerns have been ignored thus far.

Please join us in signing this petition to encourage the Town of New Glasgow to reconsider the rezoning of LOT 22 Chestnut Street and the location of the long-term care facility.

Thank you for considering this petition.

Regards,

Residents of New Glasgow