Public consultation on regional plan review underway
Posted Mar 20, 2012 06:31:34 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Just as public hearings are being held to discuss a development that violates municipal height restrictions, HRM By Design is also being reviewed.
Halifax Regional Council will hear from the public tonight on the proposed YMCA building, which is more than twice as high as permitted, at 49 metres tall.
At the same time, HRM By Design is undergoing its five-year review, with public consultations starting this week.
Visit the HRM website for a complete list of meeting times and locations.
“There is some dissension as it relates to HRM By Design and some recent decisions that have been made by council and indeed reaction by the public,” said Coun. Steve Stretch (Eastern Shore-Musquodoboit Valley).
Stretch said the regional plan has slowed development opportunities in rural communities and if residents agree they need to speak up at one of this week’s public sessions.
“In the urban centers it would be the same type of thing,” said Stretch. “If the height restrictions that are in place now, or development constraints are not what the people and the residents are looking for, then this is the opportunity to make those changes.”
Coun. Bob Harvey (Lower Sackville) agrees growth is something he’d like to hear about.
“I think we need to hear about those growth areas,” said Harvey. “Whether they’re on the peninsula or downtown Dartmouth, are the numbers working out? Are our growth numbers matching what we predicted five years ago?”
Coun. Jennifer Watts (Connaught-Quinpool) is also encouraging residents to speak out about their communities, noting the peninsula will likely see a lot of growth as the city reacts to the federal shipbuilding contract.
“This is an opportunity for residents to come out and say how they want their neighbourhoods to grow,” said Watts.
Watts says a big part of this five-year cycle is the centre plan, which will focus on the peninsula and urban Dartmouth.
