Halifax Herald
Wednesday, May 5, 2004
By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER / City Hall Reporter
Halifax now has a different set of rules governing development in its rural areas for the next 18 months.
"One size does not fit all," former Preston MLA Wayne Adams told councillors at a one-hour public hearing, before they accepted an amendment to Halifax's interim growth plan.
About a dozen people came to city hall to tell councillors that eastern rural areas should have more development leeway while Halifax drafts its 25-year regional plan.
Deputy Mayor Steve Streatch introduced the idea last month as a way of keeping construction alive in districts 1, 2 and 3.
"All we're asking for here is a little prosperity," said Coun. David Hendsbee (Preston-Porters Lake).
And they got it - after the 19-3 vote, landowners in most parts of the three districts will be allowed to build new private roads and develop a maximum of eight lots per parcel of land approved for development before Jan. 22.
The other 20 districts won't get those considerations over the next 18 months while Halifax works on its growth management plan.
Some councillors were convinced to approve the motion when Coun. Krista Snow (Waverley-Dutch Settlement) asked to remove the overdeveloped communities of Fall River and Westphal from the amendment.
"Quite frankly, we wouldn't want that," she said, indicating, however, that more development is needed in her district's rural areas.
Councillors also liked the ability to cancel the amendment if, after six months, staff find that development is getting out of control.
But many of the 13 speakers said that wasn't going to happen because the areas need development.
That's because the industry in rural Halifax Regional Municipality hasn't been booming like it has in the urban core, Paula Milson of Musquodoboit Harbour said.
Most people in the areas just want the ability to develop family lots so they can make room for their children, said Eastern Shore resident Howard Williams.
"On the Eastern Shore, especially in the black communities, one of the problems that we have had for many decades is good housing.
"And I'd hate to see young people who are trying to get their families homes now being told 'You cannot get a building permit to build.' "
Preston MLA Keith Colwell said he was concerned about employment.
"A lot of small contractors . . . carpenters, excavation and trucking companies, well-drillers and septic tank installers, all of those people will lose work."
Mr. Adams said the city would have to think about a "tax rollback " if the amendment didn't go through.
"Our assessments are high for land that we can't use."
Two speakers were against the changes.
Greg Baker of Fall River said he's seen what happens when overdevelopment happens.
"There's nothing you can do after these places are built," he said. "They're there."
Former Armdale councillor Graham Reid said there will be more than ample land available over the next 18 months for people to build wherever they want.
"There's no need for districts 1, 2 and 3 to be any different than everyone else."
Coun. John Cunningham, whose Dartmouth Centre district does not benefit from the amendments, disagreed.
"One set of rules can't apply everywhere," he said, adding the problem areas and mistakes of the past are not in those districts.