District 7 Candidates Jen Powley and incumbent Waye Mason submitted survey responses. Richard Arundel-Evans and Craig Roy did not return surveys. See details below:
Waye Mason
Phone: 782.234.2458
Email: waye@wayemason.ca
These are not yes or no questions, so if you will not print my answers in their entirety please do not answer yes or no on my behalf.
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)
Depends. On the publicly owned land yes, on the privately held land no.
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 reject the premise of the question.
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)
The Centre Plan research showed we have a good supply of green space for our growth plans with the exception of the far North End/Kempt Road area, so plans for requiring 8% of the Bragg/Piercy’s land, turning the parking lot in front of the Forum on Almon into a large park, and looking to obtain land in the strawberry/hill commission street area are needed. Green connectivity is enabled through the complete streets framework.
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.
This is entirely misleading, at best you are ill informed, at worst deliberately misleading. Any group can book this space for a game, but not for practice such as:
- Rugby Fest
- NSSL Soccer Finals
- Youth Soccer Jamboree
- University Soccer SMU v DAL
- 2 events cancelled due to weather (one dorian!)
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)
I did oppose it, but now that they have pulled back on to their property they don’t need HRM approval for their land north of the Museum. We tried to get them entirely over onto the other side of Summer but that was not possible, and the current proposal is 60% the size of the original and no longer ruins Lancers and Wanderers, so that is far less damaging than the initial proposal for the heating plant and parking garage.
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.
I think the 1994 Master Plan is a good document and far more flexible than you give it credit for. I love the idea of a Great Lawn, and am excited to buy the new Common Pool next year.
Jen Powley
powleyfordistrict7.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
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
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
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 do not have anything in my platform except for a commitment to increasing green space. I think the privatization of the Wanderer’s Grounds is losing public green space.
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
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.
I like that the Halifax Common has priority in the 1994 Master Plan. All planning was supposed to be subservient to the Common’s Master Plan. I think that is a pro. I wonder what this means for the development on Spring Garden and Robie and College, or the development on Quinpool and Robie. The Plan says that publicly-owned buildings are no substitute for open space and it vows to fight against the loss of open space. However, there was a building added to the Common in the guise of needing a place to put on skates. I think the land of the QE High School is disputable. The Halifax Common Plan of 1994 said that the land was supposed to go to the City. It went to the Province. I would consider this a con.
The fact that the Wanderer’s Grounds have been turned over to use by a professional soccer club seems to go against the principle of public access put forward by the Plan. That is a con. I found the Plan to be quite general and lacked specific timelines. I am concerned about the redevelopment of the Hospital. Why could the new Cancer Centre not go on the Victoria General (VG) site? The entire hospital needs to be rebuilt, isn’t that the perfect opportunity to build a new Cancer Center and a new parkade? It would not threaten the Central Common. I worry about the new VG plan, which seems to have very little public consultation. I would stress in the new Master Plan that all planning documents including the new Centre Plan should be subservient to the Common and that public space should have a priority over the interests of the province.
I state in my platform a commitment to green space. I would like active transportation routes to be planned for the peninsula and terminate in the Halifax Common. HRM Council unfortunately sold off St. Pats on Quinpool despite a petition from 800 people asking that the land be used for public gardening. People need the access to fresh vegetables at a minimal cost. HRM is continuing to sell whatever land it has such as St. Pat’s Alexandra on Maitland Street and is currently looking for a buyer for the Bloomfield Center on Agricola. This has to stop. HRM residents deserve the space. I think the new Master Plan should be a stronger statement of how all plans and land use by-laws should be subservient to the Master Plan. I would investigate what provisions in law are needed to make it substantial.