Two subdivisions off Elmwood Drive have been approved by Moncton City Council even though both were rejected by city staff, the Planning Advisory Committee and go against the city’s own municipal plan.

Eastgate Village, across from Irishtown Nature Park, will have 956 units including single homes, townhouses, apartments, a daycare, a private school and a nature market.

The Vineyard will consist of an unknown number of homes across from Granite Drive.

Council voted 7 to 4 in favour of both subdivisions during second and third readings at Monday’s regular council meeting.

The yeah votes were deputy mayor Bryan Butler and councillors Shawn Crossman, Paulette Theriault, Dave Steeves, Marty Kingston, Daniel Bourgeois and Paul Richard.

The nay votes were Mayor Dawn Arnold and councillors Susan Edgett, Monique LeBlanc and Charles Leger.

Prior to the vote, Arnold made a plea to council to turn down the projects and also offered an apology over recent comments she made.

“At our October 17 public session of council during the public hearing for the expansion of the city’s serviceable boundary, I described council’s potential decision to extend the boundary as being quote, ‘not smart’. I sincerely apologize to anyone I offended by this poor choice of words. It was definitely not my intention. Thank you.”

Both projects lie outside Moncton’s serviceable urban boundary for water and sewer services which is why city staff and the Planning Advisory Committee rejected them.