Land changes get the go ahead on path to ecosphere

BY SARA KEDDY

Kings County Register

Berwick took another quick step forward on a path that could see Nova Verde’s ecosphere the first occupant of newly-revised mixed Commercial Warehouse C-3 land.

At a public consultation hosted by the Planning Advisory Committee Feb. 19, chairwoman and Councillor Beth Easson said “the town has no legal right” to enter into any agreements with this project because of land use restrictions.

“Adding mixed use could provide diversity for sites in commercial areas.”

About 20 people attended, but Easson urged them to remember the purpose: changes to the C-3 zone itself, and not the Nova Verde project - although proponents Barry Wamboldt and Ron Turner were in attendance “to provide clarification on what mixed use could be.”

Murray Saunders asked whether the amendments apply to just the Front Street property Nova Verde would use, or all C-3 lots.

“There are about eight properties affected,” said town planner Chris Millier: Larsens, the old bakery, the Berwick Industrial Park and a few smaller lots around Front Street. “The right would stay in place for any other developer.

“These are enabling provisions, but an application could be any combination of industry, agriculture or commercial use.”

Millier also said he hadn’t been able to find any other examples of such mixed use in the province.

If approved, PAC would look at a proposal and recommend a development agreement to council. Council would have to move it through first reading, a public hearing and then second reading before any development is approved.

A development agreement would lay out strict site planning and traffic handling expectations, along with a consideration of the actual development’s appearance and operation.

There were questions more specific to Nova Verde’s project - its potential noise, traffic, byproducts and waste handling.

Mark Levack said, though, if the town would have to look at projects through development agreements, “it might as well vote yes to this and wait for proposals.”

Following the public meeting, PAC members endorsed the changes to council for first reading March 11 and an expected public hearing March 25. Nova Verde has said if it could start renovations in June, its first crops could be grown by June 2009.

PAC member Joe McGrath said economic development is a must for Berwick’s future.

“Talk around town is positive - people want this process to continue, whether it’s for this project (Nova Verde) or not.”

Making business fit Berwick

Nova Verde partner Ron Turner says Berwick’s vision - to be energy efficient and self-sufficient - matches his company’s growing plans.

An ecosphere greenhouse on top of the old Stirling apple warehouse on Front Street would use green energy - solar and thermal oxidization, educate students in two-year courses on both greenhouse operations and alternative energy technology, manufacture greenhouse components for sale, produce quick-grow crops for local markets, sell byproduct heat and gases and employ up to 70 people.

“Right now, we want to make sure the people of Berwick and the community are completely comfortable with what we’re doing,” Turner told about 50 guests at the Western Kings Board of Trade’s annual meeting Feb. 19.

Bill Scott asked Turner if there would be any odours, smoke or chimneys from the development.

“None at all,” Turner responded.

“Do you have any ideas on how to solve the truck and traffic congestion in that area?” Mike Munday asked.

“There won’t be 100 trucks a day, but there may have to be some reconfiguration. It’s an issue we saw right from the start, but it’s not something we can’t solve,” Turner said.

Orlay Veinotte asked if there is anywhere else in the world Berwick could look to examine the effects of an ecosphere.

Turner said, no, there are no other greenhouses using thermal oxidization to grow crops.