Vision Implementation Committee

- Meeting Minutes -

Fall River Vision Implementation Committee Meeting
Minutes of June 24, 2008

Attendees:

Michael Creighton (Chair), Norma McLean (HRM), Maureen Ryan (HRM), Gary Dease, Owen Evans, Bill Munden, Jacqueline Steudler, Teresa Woodford, Paul Adlakha, Cheryl Hawbolt, Betty Evans, Allannah Mattie, Robin (and Caleb) Stewart, Keith Manchester, Rick Cruse, Barry Dalrymple

Invited Guests: Trevor Creaser (HRM), Kevin Warner (HRM), Ivy Warren (HRM)

Regrets: Stephanie Seemel, Charles Fullerton and Joy Goudge

Items discussed:

Fall River Current Development Brief - Two HRM development officers (Sackville office) joined us to provide updated information us on development plans within Fall River.

The only residential development currently in progress was approved prior to 2006 as part of 25 year (Regional) plan to control development.

A bypass from Hammonds Plains through Sackville, Beaverbank, and curving around to pass between Fletcher Lake and Grand Lake then on to the 102 had been planned. However, the portion from Beaverbank to the 102 has been permanently cancelled by HRM. A new connector to the 102 to ease traffic congestion for the Fall River area would be undertaken only if/when it can be determined that there is a significant need (according to some objective criteria).

No new streets can be built in Fall River at the present time without special permission including connecting secondary roads to major roads (unless it can be shown to be a necessity or meet a practical need, e.g., provide a second outlet for a subdivision).

Currently, the province does not control growth and development on the basis of ground water availability, i.e., no proof of ground water required.

Commercial Development - It was stated by VIC that our greatest fear is for Highway 2 to become like Sackville Drive. Aesthetics is the main issue.

We were informed that, currently, there are no regulations concerning the appearance of buildings attached to building permits. (We are to begin working to change this soon)

There will be a professional building constructed at the northwest corner of Highway 2 and Fall River Drive. Current buildings will be taken out. The building will be two stories (37 feet high is code) with a Subway on the ground floor. (Entry will be from Highway 2 with an exit onto Fall River Drive.

A permit has been given to build a new vet clinic on Highway 2 next to the lot where school buses are parked.

(No action required)

Community Planning Update - Between now and end of September, Maureen will be working on three alternative plans for regulations concerning development design guidelines/regulations.

There will be a meeting of the Community Planning Group to discuss this process on August 18, 7:00 pm, Open Gate.

Krista Snow presented at Council (June 24) a request for interim regulations regarding land use. She also presented to Council a preliminary request/plan to allow for senior citizen housing on the land to the north of Fall River Village which would require a change to regulations on housing density (currently one home per acre) to allow for cluster homes. This would also require the extension of city water from Ingram Road to the proposed site.

Community Planning Group members (still need a few TG chairpersons to round it out): Michael Creighton, Rick Cruse, Sandra Carr, Trish Hattie, Stephanie Seemel, Alannah Mattie, Joy Gouge, Robin Stewart, Bob Guscott

Action required - Community Planning Group to meet on August 18 to review process and plans.

Gordon R. Snow Community Recreation Centre Programs and Services - Ivy Warren (HRM) Area Coordinator of Recreation Services, presented an overview of the new rec centre.

It is scheduled for turnover from the builder to HRM in September (not a firm date), somewhat later than expected due to weather constraints as well as delays in the delivery of essential materials.

The centre’s primary focus is providing for the recreation and social needs of children and youth. There is a committee of local youth very involved in developing and providing input for youth programs.

Pictures were shown of the building interior at its present level of completion and all the rooms described. The facilities are available for people in the community to book in order to facilitate their own programs. In addition to the building itself, there will be a trail through the trees, a gazebo, a skateboard park and amphitheatre style steps which would allow for outdoor programming. The plans can be viewed on the HRM website.

(No action required)

Recommendation (Communicating VIC Activities) - Paul Burris reminded VIC that we need to do as good a job as possible communicating what VIC is doing to the broader community.

Action required - Paul Burris and Rick Cruse are to contact Joanne Jordan (online District Two news) as well as to contact local newspapers to provide them with information on what we are doing.

Reports - It was requested that the VIC provide only one set of minutes to HRM. All TGs will report their progress, actions, etc., via their reports to the large VIC meetings which will then be added as part of the VIC minutes. There is no need for each TG to provide its own minutes to HRM and the VIC as a whole.

Action required - No minutes from TGs to VIC. TGs provide verbal (or written reports) of their meetings when together with the larger VIC.

Reassignment of Goals - The Community Development TG requested that the Open Spaces TG take on two CD goals, each of which has far more to do with their (OS) mandate than the CD mandate. Open Spaces TG agreed to take on tasks (1) develop community trail network and (2) implement Shubenacadie Canal Development Plan.

Task Group Reports

Transportation - There is continued discussion to keep alive the rail transit ideas until HRM might re-consider it.

Suggestion that FR VIC meet with Bedford Waterfront VIC to discuss how to coordinate transit with the water ferry idea.

Letter to be sent to HRM with three issues: (1) support rural express (2) support a partner carpool initiative and (3) proposal in the fall for an intra-community transport network.

Open Space - No updates. Each TG member requested to get acquainted with all local trails.

Housing - Their first meeting will be on 3 July.

Economic Development - There is continued concern about the traffic flow situation in FR. They have received copies of the water protection plan. They are working on how best to approach their issues.

Community Development - We are hopeful to get a few more trees to replace a few that died and to finish out the street to the end of the Sobey’s parking lot. Working to provide a facilities mapping database. Waiting for a letter from the head of Halifax Regional Library to determine (1) how many District 2 library patrons are there who go to other libraries; (2) Any plan for a local library in FR; (3) is there an established criterion for how many residents to one library?

We are hopeful to develop a multi-sport facility at some point in future. Working to develop FR volunteer database (Norma indicated there is one which we can get; use to match volunteers with local opportunities). Discussing ways to develop a “signature” FR yearly event.

Next VIC Meeting - 29 September, 7:00 pm; Open Gate; all VIC and Task Group members.

Fall River Vision Implementation Committee Meeting
Minutes May 26, 2008

Attendees: Norma MacLean, Allan Billard, Keith Manchester, Michael Creighton, Val Williams, Alannah Mattie, Stephanie Seemel, Bob Guscott, Sabrina Wakfer, CherylHawboldt, Jim Simon, Marie Baoccabella, Trish Hattie, Tim Wakfer, Sandra Carr, Joy Goudge, Jacqueline Steudler, Paul Burris, Rick Cruse, Charles Fullerton, Robin Stewart, Teresa Woodford, Maureen Ryan

The meeting was called to order by Michael Creighton at 7:05. He announced that Andrew Jones would not be able to continue to work with the committee, at least for this time. Comments were made regarding the trees being planted along Highway 2.

Maureen walked us through the Community Planning Process (hope to get copies of the power point slides)

Fall River Development brief by HRM Community Development (this individual was not available to attend)

Silent consent explained: decisions and communications will be circulated to everyone together with a “Please respond by” date with regard to questions, changes, etc. If nothing is heard by that date, it is assumed that all are in agreement.

Composition of VIC, implementation date: the Vision Implementation Committee will be comprised of the assigned VIC members (Sandra Carr, Trish Hattie, Michael Creighton, Stephanie Seemel, Rick Cruse, Joy Goudge), TG chairs (or alternate, i.e., the TG recorder ). It is suggested that the group remain 8-10 members. Next VIC (plus all TGs) will be on Tuesday, June 24, 7:00 pm at the Open Gate. It was recommended that the VIC also take on the role of Community Planning Group which will work directly with HRM.

Communication Protocols: all TG communications should be copied to Michael Creighton (VIC), Norma MacLean, and Maureen Ryan. (Official correspondence signed by chair/ spokesperson/ alternate, keeping HRM staff informed, HRM contact list, communications group for TG, VIC (recorders), minutes on website.
It was discussed that there needs to be a good level of publicity to keep the general public aware of what the VIC and TGs are doing. The public is always free to attend any of our meetings [do they know this?]. The primary communications tool is the website [http://www.halifax.ca/visionhrm/FallRiver/]. However, not all have computers, so we need to use print media (Laker) as well as public notice boards.

Use of rent-free facilities by VIC: the consensus was that this is not a problem.

New members: Joy Goudge, Alannah Mattie.

Members participation requirements: All were reminded that the goal is not to burn people out. If anyone needs time away (leave of absence) or to step down, this is understandable and should not cause undue stress to anyone.

Interaction with developers (any discussions should be seen as individual private citizens and not as VIC/TG members): developers can be invited to TG meetings to hear the communities desires and to be asked questions of a general nature regarding development dreams and plans. This is to allow people to understand the development process. Such an invitation to a TG meeting should not be viewed as the opportunity to “grill” the developer nor to get them to discuss specific development plans.

TG reports
Community Development: the letters approved at the previous meeting have been sent off to the appropriate people at HRM. There is no response to date.
Economic Development: no report
Housing: no report
Open Spaces: no report
Transport: minutes of their meeting were distributed together with a motion suggested (see the minutes of the Transport TG). Motion was passed.

Fall River Vision Implementation Committee Meeting
Minutes April 21, 2008

Attendees:
Paul Burris, Trish Hattie, Jacqueline Steudler, Michael Creighton, Cheryl Hawboldt, Robin Stewart, Barry Dalrymple, Allen McKenzie, Sabrina Wakfer,
Betty Evans, Bill Munden, Tim Wakfer, Owen Evans, Maureen Ryan, Val Williams, Charles Fullerton, Stephanie Seemel, Teresa Woodford, Gary Geddes, Jim Simon

Items Discussed:

Meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM by Chair Michael Creighton.

Reports from each of the Task Groups were reviewed.

Several motions prepared by the Community Development Task Group were reviewed/discussed by the group with the following revised motions moved and accepted by the attendees:

“The Fall River Visioning Implementation Committee strongly recommends that, when the Gordon R. Snow Recreation Center/Zone 4 Fire Station-45 becomes operative and, as a result, the Highway #2, Fall River Auxiliary Fire Hall becomes surplus to requirements, HRM retain ownership of said property for Community purposes. Details of possible uses of said property to be determined with appropriate HRM staff aid in cooperation with the Fall River Visioning Implementation Committee.”; and

“The Fall River Visioning Implementation Committee strongly recommends that, when the Gordon R. Snow Recreation Center/Zone 4 Fire Station-45 becomes operative and, as a result, the the Fall River Recreation Center becomes surplus to requirements, HRM retain ownership of said property for Community purposes. Details of possible uses of said property to be determined with appropriate HRM staff aid in cooperation with the Fall River Visioning Implementation Committee.”

“That Lockview High School be encouraged to hold periodic community cleanup days of areas of common student use.”

“That the Fall River Vision Implementation Committee registers support for a timely commencement of a community planning process to develop a detailed plan and regulations for the design of any development and provision of services in the Fall River Rural Commuter Center area”

“That the Fall River Vision Implementation Committee requests that HRM send a development officer to advise the committee on current development applications in the Fall River Rural Commuter Center area.”

Items 2 a) i. and 2 a) ii. included much discussion about potential uses for these buildings. This information is to be included in the correspondence issued as a result of these motions.

Item 2 a) iii. was proposed to be issued subsequent to the planned Lockview clean-up in commemoration of Earth Week.

Item 2 a) v. was added through discussion at this meeting.

Nothing to report from the Economic Development and Housing Task Groups.

Open Space Task Group had met once.

Transportation Task Group had questions regarding the “official” word on the timing of transit implementation. Initial information indicates the pilot commuter transit corridor is to be the Highway 103 corridor; future commuter transit implementations for Highway 102 and Highway 107 corridors are planned for spring 2011. Concerns were voiced regarding the timelines for implementation in the Highway 102 corridor. Suggestion that information was available at HYPERLINK "http://www.halifax.ca" www.halifax.ca

Maureen Ryan provided an overview of the community planning process starting with an outline of previous studies (Municipal Planning Strategy, Fall River Centre Study) and the studies currently ongoing (Fall River Watershed Study and the proposed Transportation Study).

Maureen also spoke about the various planning “tools” that can be used as we move forward through the implementation process. Maureen suggested bringing out some process models to use for moving forward.

Next Vision Implementation Committee (VIC) Meeting is to be held May 26, 2008 at 7:00 PM – venue to be confirmed.

Other business – Michael Creighton advised the group of an upcoming information meeting on the proposed municipal tax reforms scheduled for Wednesday, June 4, 2008, 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Inn on the Lake.

Barry Dalrymple advised the group of an open house to be held at the LWF Community Centre on May 22, 2008 at 7:00 PM.

Meeting adjourned at 9:16 PM.