Province moves to prevent HRM from developing Dartmouth Common
Posted May 10, 2011 06:36:26 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Premier Darrell Dexter has tabled amendments to the HRM charter that he says will protect the Dartmouth Common for future generations.
It would require the approval of HRM Council and provincial cabinet to expand existing buildings on the common.
Dexter says the amendments will allow things like trails and lights to be added, but buildings and parking lots already on the common won’t be allowed to expand without approval of the city and the province.
He adds this won’t change the proposed expansion of the Sportsplex or bus terminal.
“I specifically provided for, in the legislation, it allows them to use up to six acres, and anything that is not required for the public transit facility will then rever to public open space,” said the premier.
Liberal MLA Andrew Younger says a major problem with the bill is that it doesn’t return commercial lands that were given away back to the commons when those uses end.
“So he’s very conveniently drawn the line around an area that doesn’t include some of the key lands that some of the supporters have been talking about,” said Younger.
He says the premier is conveniently ignoring encroachments on the Halifax Common, and wants the bill to be held off until the fall or it’s amended.
