A Closer Look at the Penhorn Community: Residents, City Planners Meet to Discuss Area's Future

DARTMOUTH

JOANNE OOSTVEEN
Halifax News Net

May 30, 2008

Where do you want to be 10 years from now? And what would you really like to see changed in your community?

Those questions were asked at a kickoff event last week at Alderney School as part of the HRM-led Community Visioning Process where HRM planning staff turned the floor over to the residents.

Staff told those at the meeting that every community needs a blueprint to make sure that natural areas are protected, recreational facilities schools and libraries need to be built - and the plans need to be owned by the community.

And this night it was all about the Penhorn area of Dartmouth.

Longtime resident Duke MacInnis said he attended the kickoff meeting in order to give his two cents on what he would like to see happen in his community.

"We have always had a good relationship with Penhorn Mall," he said. "Let's hope that we are kept up to date on what will happen there."

MacInnis was referring to the recent announcement that calls for the creation of a newer plaza-style complex to be built at the current Penhorn Mall site. Along with many others at the meeting he lists the mall, built in 1974 as being the focal point of the community.

David Wallace, a representative for ECL Developments Ltd., a subsidiary company of Empire Co. Ltd attended the meeting and said that although plans for Penhorn Mall are not completely finalized yet, he can assure residents that any construction there will actually add many positives to the neighbourhood.

"Any buffering near to the adjacent neighbourhoods will actually be an improvement to what is there now," he said.

The Community Visioning Process has already been completed in Musquodoboit Harbour, Fall River and Bedford. Their visions and action plans were endorsed by Regional Council last fall.

HRM staff are now looking for people of all ages and backgrounds to serve on Community Liason Groups within the Penhorn area. They must be available for the next six to eight months and give about 10 hours of their time per month. In September, these volunteers will begin to host workshops that will help Penhorn area residents create their own futures. They will later present these plans to regional council for final approval.

This event at Alderney School was held not only as an information session, but also as a way to recruit those interested in representing the consensus of a group of people drawn from every neighbourhood, age group, income level and interest within the community.

"This is a wonderful way to involve people in the development of their community," said Dartmouth Centre Coun. Gloria McCluskey, whose area falls within the boundaries of this community visioning process. "It is about time."

Maria Jacobs from HRM planning department said there is still time to apply to be a part of the Penhorn area Community Liason Groups. They need people of all ages.

For more information, call 490-4405.

This is a wonderful way to involve people in the development of their community.

joanneoostveen@accesswave.ca

30/05/08