Commercial Development

Vision: To foster business growth in the commercial district by improving traffic flow patterns and applying supportive bylaws while maintaining the village atmosphere through development of form and appearance guidelines and by encouraging and highlighting green areas and opportunities.

The commercial district of Fall River is considered to be along #2 Highway from Fletcher Drive south to the village boundary, along Fall River Road to Lockview Road and MacPherson Square. There are major commercial nodes in the Sobey’s mall area, the south end of the area along #2 Highway and in the area of the intersection of MacPherson Road and Fall River Road.

Improvement to traffic flow
- Widen Fall River Run bridge to three lanes and extend lanes to Lockview Road.
- No left turn on Fall River Road between #2 Highway and Fall River Run bridge.
- Widen #2 Highway to three lanes from Fletcher Drive to the #2 / #102 / Guysborough Road interchange. A green and preferable alternative would be to retain #2 Highway as a two lane road with a median boulevard complete with landscaping. This would accommodate turn lanes while maintaining the village atmosphere.
- Consider the advisability of a parallel “back street” to the east of #2 Highway in the commercial district. Multi storey buildings wold be limited to the east side of this road.
- Provide a second access to northwest part of Fall River from #2 Highway.

Fostering business growth
- Revise land use by-laws to allow for small scale businesses outside the commercial district e.g. convenience stores.
- Encourage long range development of MacPherson Square into a business/residential street front business area e.g. The Hydrostone.
- Provide infrastructure (water, sewer, transit) in the commercial district.

Appearance
- Apply existing or introduce new guidelines to preclude big box stores and industrial development.
- Restrict further business development and building heights on the water side of #2 Highway.
- Apply existing or introduce new guidelines for signage, colour, landscaping, form and height that will maintain/recapture a village atmosphere. (Grandfathering observed.)
- As an interim measure, put hanging flower baskets on utility poles in the commercial district. For the long term, bury overhead wires and replace wood utility poles with “Old English” style poles, street lights and hanging baskets.

Greening the commercial area
- Plant trees and/or shrubs in the median boulevard proposed above.
- Plant flowers and/or shrubs in the curbside boulevards.
- Plant trees in the current open areas.
- Develop a “Village Green” along the north end of Lake Thomas and along Fall River Run. To include waterside walkways, pedestrian bridge and gazebo(s).

Miscellaneous
Rezone any C4 to C2 and restrict further expansion of the commercial district.