Lucasville boundary issue back before council this week

HALIFAX – Proposed Lucasville boundary changes are scheduled to come back to Regional Council this week.

Councillors will debate a motion Tuesday that looks to clarify boundaries between Lucasville and Hammonds Plains that have been disputed since amalgamation in 1996. 

As it stands now according to HRM, Lucasville has a northern boundary on Lucasville Road near Highway 101 at Hefler Lane which extends south about halfway down Lucasville Road to Waterstone Run. Its western boundary sits just west of Lucasville Road and extends east to Savoy Avenue. 

Some residents of Lucasville have long argued the boundary doesn't go far enough down Lucasville Road to the south and the Lucasville Community Association has said in the past it has concerns about their area eventually being 'assimilated' into Hammonds Plains. 

City staff is recommending council extend the southern boundary roughly two kilometres to south of Cranley Road, while also pushing the western boundary about the same amount to incorporate a swath of the current Hammonds Plains that includes Newbury Road, Natura Drive, Waterstone Run, Stonewick Crescent and Westpoint Drive. 

This map shows proposed new boundaries for Lucasville. (HRM staff report.)

An alternative proposed by staff would be to keep the current southern border and continue with the western expansion. 

Staff recommend separate 'welcome signs'  be installed for each community near Hammonds Plains and Lucasville Roads. 

The staff report also looks to clarify other boundaries within HRM including Upper Hammonds Plains and Stillwater Lake. 

Crosswalk flag program could be suspended indefinitely 

After council voted to temporarily end its crosswalk flag program in May, the issue comes back before council on Tuesday with staff recommending the flag program continued to be suspended while other alternatives are studied further. 

A staff report coming to council on Tuesday finds there's still not enough information suggesting the crosswalk flags are helpful in aiding safety. 

Staff are still studying a number of different alternatives including its rectangular flashing beacon program. 

President of the Crosswalk Safety Society of Nova Scotia Norm Collins says there has been resistance to the use of the flags over the years from staff, but he is confused as to why, saying it's an inexpensive program that helps reduce pedestrian and vehicle collisions. 

He's hopeful council falls on the right side of the issue when it votes Tuesday.

Possible new off-leash dog areas to be debated 

Councillors will debate proposed amendments to the current parks by-laws affecting off-leash dog areas on Tuesday. 

If approved by council, HRM would continue its current off-leash program and allow staff to look for more areas the municipality could add off-leash spots, with an eye toward areas like Cole Harbour, Eastern Passage, Spryfield and Dartmouth. 

A staff report to be presented Tuesday indicates an increased demand for “off-leash facilities” in the area over the past several years. 

HRM currently issues roughly 16,000 dog licenses per year, according to the report, with that number thought to be only one-third of the actual dog population. 

Council to look at one-time donation to The Downie Wenjack Legacy Room Project

During Tuesday's meeting, council will consider establishing a 'legacy room' at City Hall along with a one-time contribution of $25,000 to support reconciliation projects funded under the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund. 

The fund is the creation of Tragically Hip lead singer Gord Downie, who passed away from brain cancer in October but spent the last year of his life promoting awareness of Indigenous issues and the legacy of residential schools in Canada.

If approved, council would move forward with establishing a 'Downie Wenjack Legacy Room' in the main floor boardroom of City Hall that would be opened in partnership with the Mi’kmaq Community. 

The proposed room would also include art produced in collaboration with Indigenous artists. 

Armbrae Academy, Dalhousie University, Waterfront Development Corporation and Barrington Steakhouse and Oyster Bar have also recently committed to opening similar rooms in Halifax.

-With files from Katie Hartai