J.D. Irving, Limited has announced it is withdrawing its application to rezone part of its company-owned green space adjacent to its pulp mill in west Saint John.
The proposed rezoning was meant to create parking for hundreds of construction workers involved in the company’s $1.1 billion Project NextGen, as well as for ongoing mill operations.
In a statement issued following the Saint John Council meeting on April 3, 2025, the company said the city had imposed “unreasonable conditions” that effectively blocked the project.
J.D. Irving had committed to investing $7 million in the parking area and associated community upgrades. However, city officials would only approve a five-year temporary rezoning and required the company to agree to an undefined financial contribution toward future redevelopment of Simms Corner and the approach to the Reversing Falls bridge.
“We repeatedly and clearly communicated a temporary approval is not at all viable,” the company stated, citing growing concerns about economic uncertainty and regulatory delays. The process, which began in July 2024, has included ten hours of public hearings over nine months, with no firm timeline for a final decision.
The company added that it still intends to pursue a rezoning in the future but will proceed for now with a less efficient, temporary parking solution.
The land in question, known locally as Wolastoq Park, is closed for the season and will remain so until the company gains clarity on future plans for the site, including possible land use changes related to government infrastructure projects in the area.
Since its founding in 1882, J.D. Irving, Limited has been committed to developing and delivering quality products and services. With headquarters in Saint John and Moncton, New Brunswick, this diversified, family-owned company operates in eight business sectors, including forestry and forest products.
