Fredericton approves controversial parking lot in Carleton Park

The City of Fredericton has decided to go ahead with a plan to pave a parking lot on the northside green for a new Picaroons Brewery.

Councillors voted Tuesday to pass the controversial plan to pave partof Carleton Park.

Deputy mayor Eric Megarity says it's going to be built on public land that does not need to be rezoned. Theland will still be owned by the city.

He says that the parking lot was needed, as the parking lot that was on the other side of the Picaroons building is going to be remade intogreen space.

"We are losing valuable parking space on the property that the city once owned.Now it's being turned back to green space."

Megarity said that there could have been more public consultation on the proposed plan.

"There was no public component to show the public what's really happening there."

He said the deal under which the parking space was guaranteed was presented publicly, but it didn't look the same on paper.

"When you look at a piece of paper, and when you see the parking lot staked out, it's two different realities. I was shocked myself," said Megarity.

"Council has to have a better oversight on all city-owned properties."

Megarity says in the long-run there will be more green space at Carleton Park and more public consultation.