On January 22, 2004 the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) imposed a three month moratorium on approvals of new large-scale housing developments in areas that do not have sewer or water services. Nova Scotia’s Municipal Affairs Minister, Barry Barnet, had signed the moratorium earlier that same day.
Environmental activists, and concerned academics like Patricia Manuel, Professor of Planning at Dalhousie University, vigorously supported the action. (http://www.ecologyaction.ca/news/107689937033619.html )
Halifax planners had said that they needed time to work on a much needed 25-year regional plan, and that they wanted to avoid seeing developers rushing through any new developments under the wire. The Province was happy to oblige their request for a cooling off period.
"Past experience has shown that the municipality is likely to experience accelerated subdivision and building lot creation during the public process of developing a new Regional Plan for the area," Mayor Peter Kelly said. "As public debate of the various alternatives takes place, land developers may perceive their ability to develop land in the future will be restricted and may request development approvals now, which could cause growth management and infrastructure problems once the new plan is in place. The most effective way to reduce the risk of land speculation now is to adopt interim controls."
Mayor Kelly said public input on the new Regional Plan so far indicates that citizens feel strongly that HRM should be reducing development sprawl. Also, citizens recognize that this may mean changing current development rules in the municipality.
"The Regional Planning process is one of public consultation, because the final plan will determine how our municipality will grow and develop over the next 25 years. HRM has been seeking input from residents as to the type of community they want to see develop in the future, and Regional Council will set its priorities according to that vision. We don't want to see public debate on these issues overshadowed by undue development pressure." the Mayor said.
(http://www.halifax.ca/mediaroom/pressrelease/pr2004/040122regplanmorator.html)
“We have to get ourselves ready for the future, and the only way to do so is to slow down and see what’s going on and to see what we can do to make things better for our citizens,” said Halifax Downtown Councillor. Dawn Sloane.
(http://www.sandyhines.com/news.htm)
The moratorium process was done in complete secrecy. Provincial Cabinet gave its consent to the moratorium on January 22, only hours before an unannounced council meeting. No developers were invited to attend. Minutes after council’s approval, Mayor Peter Kelly signed the ministerial order. He does not apologize for his actions.
“We have done what the public expects us to do,” said Kelly. “We’re here to serve the public and their views have to remain paramount.”
Reaction from incensed local developers and their supporters was immediate.
"This is an attempt to defer people's rights," says Darrell Dixon, with the Urban Development Institute, a group representing about 50 developers. "There's no way around it – people are going to be the losers."
(http://novascotia.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/PrintStory?filename=ns_housing®ion=Novascotia)
American Smart Growth critic Wendell Cox, a name recently familiar to Winnipegers, is quoted as saying,
It defies logic to vote in favour of rationing land in a region that is thirsting for growth. While I am sure the move is well intentioned, it is a pity that the HRM council has been beguiled by a very bad set of ideas that sound good, but aren't. The strategy they have been advised to pursue will in fact defeat the objectives they hope to reach."
"We all know what happens when you ration anything --- the price goes up. And this new announcement by HRM is clearly intended to ration the supply of land for development within HRM's jurisdiction. This is a misguided strategy that will refuse opportunity to Nova Scotians who will be denied home ownership and the equity accumulation that accrues as a result. People with average household incomes, will be seriously hurt by this action. For the poor, it puts home ownership totally out of reach. This sort of bureaucratic meddling is a recipe for going backward, economically and socially.
(from http://www.aims.ca/)
It is interesting that Manitoba NDP Cabinet Minister Tim Sale, when advancing the quick City approval of the Waverley West subdivision application, has recently used these very same talking points. The rhetoric of development proponents seems to transcend both provincial boundaries and political ideologies. While the Province of Nova Scotia supports its major city, Halifax, in the difficult task of managing sustainable urban growth, the Province of Manitoba is the leading proponent of unchecked expansionary growth in the Winnipeg region. What are the chances of Christine Melnick, Manitoba’s Housing Minister signing into law even a 30-day moratorium on new housing developments? Probably about zero, considering that her own department, Manitoba Housing, is designing Waverley West as we speak.
The University of Manitoba, which stands to make millions of dollars in profits developing its vacant fields in Fort Garry into housing, is a vocal proponent of the Waverley West development. Is there any conflict of interest here? What do Nova Scotian academics like Patricia Manuel (or even Manitoban academics like Chris Leo) think of this scenario? Why has Winnipeg’s media not sought them out for their comments? Why is it that our politicians, our academics and our media have told Winnipegers nothing about the Halifax moratorium?
I only hope that Haligonians are as ignorant about Winnipeg development issues as we are of theirs. This is definitely not a proud time to be a Manitoban.