Of Candidates for District 13 Derek Bellemore and Pam Lovelace responded. Tom Arnold, Tim Elms, Robert Holden, Nick Horne, Darrell Jessome, Iain Taylor and Harry Ward did not submit responses. Derek Bellemore gives exceptionally Common favourable replies! For details see below:
Derek Bellemore
Phone: 902.476.1425
Email: dsbellemore@gmail.com
1.There has been gradual but constant loss of public-use open space from the Halifax Common’s 245 acres. In the HRM Charter there is a legislated protection for preserving the integrity of the Dartmouth Common. Would you commit to establishing a similar law to protect the integrity of the Halifax Common? (Yes or No) I would very much support drafting a similar law for Halifax.
2. Proposals for 4 high rise towers on the Halifax Common in the Carlton, College, Robie, Spring Garden Road area are proceeding through the HRM Development Agreement process. If approved these will negatively impact public enjoyment of remaining open green space on the south Halifax Common i.e. Camp Hill Cemetery, Public Gardens or Dalhousie Seton Campus, by blocking sunlight/views, creating wind and adding hundreds of cars. Would you work to have HRM actively oppose these developments? (Yes or No) I would move to deny the current proposals. They must factor in public spaces and greater connections for the Commons.
3. The Halifax Common remains a major reserve of green space for the Halifax Peninsula. There is a shortage of green space in HRM (needed in addition to sports and recreation facilities). Would you favour an expanded and comprehensive green space policy for HRM, especially on the Halifax Peninsula, that will increase public open space and connectivity between existing green space? (Yes or No) I would favour an expanded green space policy in the municipality. My district would benefit greatly from such a policy as well.
4. One recent change in a part of the Halifax Common is use of the Wanderer’s Grounds. Prior to its essential privatization by a professional soccer team, the Wanderer’s Grounds was fully booked by amateur players. Now zero amateur teams have regular access. Have you any policies you’d pursue for the Wanderer’s Grounds? Please describe briefly. I would probably pursue the option of multiple uses beyond the Halifax Wanderers if possible. We should get as much use out of the land as we can.
5. Plans for the additions to the QEII hospital complex include the building of two parking garages at the Natural History Museum and former CBC TV site. While the Province is taking the lead, HRM is co-operating. Under s.213 of the HTM Charter the Province pledges to “consider the planning documents of the Municipality” before carrying out any development. Would you work to have HRM actively oppose the Province’s plans for these parking garages? (Yes or No) In the current proposal, I would work actively to oppose the parking garages. The current designs encroach far too much on the Commons.
6. The previous City of Halifax adopted a 1994 Master Plan for the Common. HRM is now considering a new Master Plan. What are your views on the pros and cons of the 1994 Master Plan and what would you propose for the new Halifax Common Master Plan? Please elaborate. The pros of the 1994 plan is the preservation and acquisition of lands within the Commons. The con is the emphasis on working for connections for the existing green spaces rather than for the whole of the Commons. A proposal I would like to bring forward is for each development within the Commons to contribute to the connectivity and to the green spaces of the area. This will help restore the original purpose of the commons as a public green space.
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Pam Lovelace
Phone: 902.237.1747
Email: info@pamelalovelace.ca
1. There has been gradual but constant loss of public-use open space from the Halifax Common’s 245 acres. In the HRM Charter there is a legislated protection for preserving the integrity of the Dartmouth Common. Would you commit to establishing a similar law to protect the integrity of the Halifax Common? (Yes or No) Yes.
2. Proposals for 4 high rise towers on the Halifax Common in the Carlton, College, Robie, Spring Garden Road area are proceeding through the HRM Development Agreement process. If approved these will negatively impact public enjoyment of remaining open green space on the south Halifax Common ie Camp Hill Cemetery, Public Gardens or Dalhousie Seton Campus, by blocking sunlight/views, creating wind and adding hundreds of cars. Would you work to have HRM actively oppose these developments? (Yes or No) My answer is neither yes nor no, as each of these should be discussed individually.
3. The Halifax Common remains a major reserve of green space for the Halifax Peninsula. There is a shortage of green space in HRM (needed in addition to sports and recreation facilities). Would you favour an expanded and comprehensive green space policy for HRM, especially on the Halifax Peninsula, that will increase public open space and connectivity between existing green space? (Yes or No) Yes, but not especially on the Peninsula. The Halifax Green Network Plan recommends a regional interconnected open space network. I agree with this approach.
4. One recent change in a part of the Halifax Common is use of the Wanderer’s Grounds. Prior to its essential privatization by a professional soccer team, the Wanderer’s Grounds was fully booked by amateur players. Now zero amateur teams have regular access. Have you any policies you’d pursue for the Wanderer’s Grounds? Please describe briefly. No. I think it’s important to offer amateur soccer players the opportunity to learn from and potentially play for a professional team. If a deficit of soccer fields for amateur players is identified in Halifax, then the Recreation Plan should address that.
5. Plans for the additions to the QEII hospital complex include the building of two parking garages at the Natural History Museum and former CBC TV site. While the Province is taking the lead, HRM is co-operating. Under s.213 of the HTM Charter the Province pledges to “consider the planning documents of the Municipality” before carrying out any development. Would you work to have HRM actively oppose the Province’s plans for these parking garages? (Yes or No) No. Revisions to the plans were made by the Province in April 2020 after the community raised concern. Under the Halifax Charter, the municipality does not have any legal jurisdiction to oppose the Province. Instead, HRM should be actively working to renegotiate the Halifax Charter with the Province to secure more autonomy.
6. The previous City of Halifax adopted a 1994 Master Plan for the Common. HRM is now considering a new Master Plan. What are your views on the pros and cons of the 1994 Master Plan and what would you propose for the new Halifax Common Master Plan? Please elaborate. The biggest impediment we have to developing a new, comprehensive and progressive Halifax Commons Master Plan is the faulty community consultation process currently used by Halifax Council. Since community involvement principles are not engaged in the planning process and co-creation is not an option, the plans developed are not inclusive nor adequately reflect the true reality of our community.