Provincial bill snags Common reno
Posted May 11, 2011 05:27:48 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Halifax Regional Council wants final say over development on the Dartmouth Common, something it thought it had until a provincial bill was tabled this week with an aim to protect the grounds.
The provincial government has introduced changes to the City’s charter which would curtail what can and cannot be done on the land and define its boundaries as Boland Road, Victoria Road, Park Avenue and Halifax Harbour.
Councillor Gloria McCluskey spoke out against bill.
“We should point out that we are caretakers of the Commons, your worship, and we’re not there to destroy it,” said McCluskey during council’s regular Tuesday night meeting.
The bill comes as HRM is building a new bus terminal on the site and converting the old bus terminal land into a parking lot for the Dartmouth Sportsplex.
Under the proposed legislation, the new terminal could still be built, but the old bus terminal would revert back to Common land and would not be developed.
Council unanimously passed a resolution to ask the province that the final decision on any proposed legislative changes to the Common rest with council.
McCluskey suggested the sudden interest in the land stems from Premier Darrell Dexter’s time as a Dartmouth councillor, before amalgamation.
“Several of his friends were not happy with the bus terminal going there,” said McCluskey. “Now he’s exerting his power.”
Council is also apposed to a block of units downtown which have been designated as Common land, under the proposed legislation.
McCluskey said she would attend Province House when the bill comes up for debate later this week.
