Covered Bridge Potato Chips faces legal action by neighborhood

Residents of a New Brunswick town are planning to take legal action against potato chip manufacturer Covered Bridge Potato Chips Ltd., alleging that the company’s new production facility has negatively affected their neighbourhood through noise, odours and increased traffic.

The group of 17 residents stated through their lawyer, Basile Chiasson, that the factory, which opened last September in Woodstock, New Brunswick, has caused “significant and ongoing disruption” to their quality of life and homes.

The allegations come less than a year after Covered Bridge Potato Chips Ltd. opened its new facility in Woodstock following a fire that destroyed its original plant in nearby Waterville. 

 

Residents seek legal action

Chiasson said each resident submitted an application to proceed with their case before the Farm Practices Review Board, which oversees farm-related practices and must be notified before legal action can proceed against companies in the sector.

Robert Harrison, one of the residents, said the group’s goal was to prevent what he described as "excessive industrial intrusion" in long-established neighbourhoods. 

Robert Harrison:

"The Covered Bridge Potato Chip Ltd. plant is simply in the wrong place."

Chiasson said residents initially believed the Woodstock location would be temporary, but it has since become a permanent operation within the Woodstock Industrial Park, located beside a residential neighbourhood.

He added that the review board would determine whether it has jurisdiction over the matter or if the case should proceed before the Court of King's Bench. Covered Bridge Potato Chips Ltd. did not respond to requests for comment.
 

Concerns over zoning, noise and environmental impact

Woodstock-area MLA Bill Hogan said he had met with residents last year and hoped that homeowners, the company and the town could reach a compromise.

Bill Hogan, Woodstock-area MLA:

"It's unfortunate that they weren't able to work out a compromise so that they didn't have to take this route."

Hogan added that he does not expect Covered Bridge to relocate from Woodstock because of the company’s investment in the site.

Residents, organised through the advocacy group “Our Town, Our Voice,” also raised concerns before Woodstock town council regarding zoning, industrial activity levels and removal of trees from a required buffer zone around the facility.

According to a memo from Woodstock chief administrator Allan Walker, Covered Bridge is arranging fencing and landscaping for the buffer area around the property.

Residents also complained about noise and odours from the facility. These concerns were referred to New Brunswick’s environment department, while a review of the plant’s noise emissions was nearing completion. Walker stated that planned improvements are expected to "significantly reduce" noise generated by the factory.
 

Facility expansion and local operations

The Town of Woodstock granted Covered Bridge a building permit expansion in 2025, while council amended zoning bylaws last August to allow food processing operations on the property.

The facility employs approximately 50 people and contributes around CAD 15,500 in combined municipal and provincial property taxes, according to a 2025 city memo. The Town of Woodstock stated that it could not comment on matters currently before the court.