Goals & Objectives
Public Comments - Miscellaneous

• When considering costs of implementation, please do not limit the calculation by using simple economic measures. Economic impact goes further than GDP. For further information, please take a look at CPI (Genuine Progress Radicator) which examines the effects of certain policies on a community more accurately. For example, the creation of bike paths that are safe (See rate of accidents along the Bedford Highway) may be expensive due to initial capital costs, however the positive impacts on community health, pollution levels, etc. are harder to determine.

• Also, please remember that tourism is not our largest industry.

• Please remember that although Canada, as a whole, trades primarily with the US, Nova Scotia trades move with Germany, the UK, the EU and Japan, than with the US. Therefore, when developing coordinating industrial transport modes, this should be considered.

• The environment and its' protection are central to the survival & success of this community. HRM should look into developing wind-energy solutions with the Province.

• Halifax is ideal for becoming a leader in urban development and planning. For this to work however, a regular means of public consultation must be developed.

• I noticed some of your images included beautiful tree-lined streets with effective transit. Why has Quinpool Road been allowed to deteriorate so much? When the Quinpool Place Mall was put in on top of the park, it was agreed that the tress lining the road would be preserved. Now they are mostly gone. Why were the owners not held responsible & made to remedy the situation?

• As a resident of the West End, I am especially concerned that new in-fill development North of Agricola is not reflective of the character of adjacent neighbourhoods. These are a lot of service - industrial land. This ? close to downtown. We should review the building regulations for this land so close to the city's core, so that development reflects what we want for this area: appropriate scale & free space.

• One thing that needs to be brought to an end is the destruction of nature in order to build high end housing like condo complexes that don't get half filled. Save nature and quit wasting your money. Also more provision needs to be made for good quality LOW INCOME HOUSING

• Growing Urban; Nice balance between town/city feeling; Concern re inaccessibility for bicycles so older folks will ride their bikes; rapid buses/train from suburbs.

• There are many similar views included; all, in my opinion, worth good consideration.

• I would like to see an outline of how the residents can become more "involved" in the actual development of future planning.

• This is an effort to keep costs down, re: "studies", experts from outside HRM. We, who live here are the most knowledgeable of needs, changes that might be beneficial to everyone, re: traffic, parking, where to build malls, etc., so that the traffic flow could be dispensed better.

• More youth-oriented sites are needed, manned hopefully by interested parents/people on a volunteer basis. Some education for those who would volunteer so that no "?" only friendly helpers get to work with the young who might need guidance or even a show of loving concern.

• Patience is a virtue. Also T.V. youth programs should be more available, not cartoons, but programs with real life problems/answers. Are there any?

• So many youth see so many twisted so-called real-life shows, it is sad.

• Youth don't like "sermons", but do like to be involved in building up their self esteem so that decisions made are based on their input.

• In some of Europe, the residents are responsible for keeping their property frontage swept and tidy. This might be used to lower street cleaning costs. There is not much effort needed. We clear snow, leaves, etc., but litter (especially near food outlets) lay for days without being cleaned up.

• More sidewalk cans might help if we can teach residents not to misuse them.

• Perhaps a "block" type of cleanup system could be helpful.

• New Developments must not be allowed to discharge storm water directly into lakes, rivers, oceans or any water way. Use must be made of retention ponds, storm ceptors, etc. Storm water must be filtered, cleaned prior to discharge into water courses.

• Cultural, arts and other activities must not be concentrated in the core area. There are many residents in rural areas who would like to attend, not just pay for these facilities.

• I agree that cycling is a good clean method of transportation, however, if road ways are going to be used by cyclists, then there should be a tax/license on bikes to help cost of maintaining roadways.

• While density of housing is necessary, 30-40 foot lots are not recommended. A minimum lot frontage (residential) should be 50! Anything less results in a community looking like a used car lot. Take a look at Royal Masts Way in Bedford. Also, small lots don't provide space for children to play under the watchful eyes of parents.

• Parking - Core area of Halifax should have parking meters removed from one side of each street. This will empower traffic flow and force people to use metro transit system.

• We need to take another look at the Beaver Bank serviceable boundaries, especially the water boundaries which should be expanded to all the sub-divisions within reach of a water main. We know that with the ? Of sub-division some homes are now running out of water. Certainly we want everyone to have good potable water. Sub-division in and around Beaver Bank, Windsor Junction and Fall River should be encouraged as these areas are already service by a fairly good transportation system and within easy commuting to Halifax, Dartmouth or the Airport.

• The bus service for the areas outside of the urban core need to be reviewed. The cost of one way fare from Beaver Bank to Halifax or Dartmouth is now $3.25 one way and that takes about 1 ½ hours one way. We should increase the tax on cars and subsidize the buses. With an affordable round trip fare, the ridership would increase and the use of personal cars would decrease. There is also the park & ride which should encourage i.e. in Beaver Bank at the junction of Beaver Bank Road and Windsor Junction Road, HRM already owns a nice piece of land, it is also adjacent to the rail line, an ideal place to initiate a park and ride. If at all possible, get the rail system underway. A ferry route from Bedford to downtown Halifax & Dartmouth certainly would help to reduce the car traffic.

• What about the lack of residential building lots (serviced and at a reasonable cost to the buyer)? There exists in the HRM, families with children with stay-at-home mothers with one income. They are at the mercy of the banks and developers, selling lots at a high cost. Just look at the new subdivisions and are at the $175,000 and up homes for sale. Pleas tell me where a family can purchase a serviced lot and build a suitable home at an affordable price using self-help in the process. I'm talking about ordinary hard working people here, people who contribute to society through taxes, etc. Yet people who are denied access to their own home, because of high costs of all sorts, banks, developers, HRM permits, bylaws, inspections of all sorts. Please don't say that the is the responsibility of the province. I'm referring to families who live, work and pay taxes in HRM who need an opportunity to help themselves and provide a home for their families.

• Traffic Light Setting Wrong - from Cole Harbour into DT Dartmouth - Environmental concerns, idling cars. Efficiency - too much wait time. Ferry Clocks not in cync ? Time Clocks. Sometimes ferries leave gate effecting connections on other side.

• Work towards one HRM MP's integrating the best of each community MP's then eliminate all MP's and have only one. 2. Manage land by watershed boundaries. Integrate advisory boards into planning from east to west, 5 boards may be needed for all of HRM.

• Excellent process and opportunities for public involvement and interaction. Please insure this remains throughout the entire process. Great start.

• We are witnessing the impacts of climate change - i.e. Hurricane Juan, several major ice storms, summer droughts, new exotic pests and diseases, etc. The regional plan should recognize the need for an overall Climate change - Mitigation and Adaptation Strategy for all HRM. Cheers and keep up the good work.