The Backlands Coalition

An article in The Nova Scotian section of Saturday’s Chronicle Herald (March 29) highlights the rarity of Jack Pine/Broom Crowberry barrens and their relationship to fire. See “>The forest fires that nature intended. The print version has more photos including one of recently burnt barrens by Williams Lake.

“As a volunteer with the Cole Harbour Parks and Trails Association, I am proud our town has enviable access to a beautiful forest, teeming with life, in Cole Harbour and Westphal. Like our park and trails, the forest is a gift for the entire city, deserving of protection. I was shocked to discover Coun. David Hendsbee..” read more

We hope his grandchildren can have the same experience! (March 19th on Piggy Mt.)

A copy of David Donnelly’s powerpoint slides from a talk on land protection last Friday is available here.

Also, possibly of interest is an article on Sprawl in Halifax in the Smart City Blog.

From HRM website: “After some discussion on February 25, 2014 Regional Council referred several matters to planning staff. A report back to Council was requested for May 27th. First Reading of the revised Regional Plan could take place after May 27th and a date for a Public Hearing could also be set.” See website. One matter on which more info is being sought: the proposed addition of Attachment I (Developers’ request to rezone lands in Williams Lake area) to the RP+5 Process – see critique by the Purcell’s Cove Area Residents Action Committee (Feb 20th letter).

Members of the Coalition were well represented in the gallery at Regional Council on Tuesday. The mayor spoke strongly in favour of the Regional Plan and said it was unlikely he would support any amendments… but final decisions were deferred again. See Metro News Report and Interview with Tristan Cleveland from OurHRM Alliance.

The Redoubt Head Homeowners’ Association (RHHA) has joined the Backlands Coalition as out 10th member. Welcome indeed!

From the Alliance (1/23/2014):
Shocking news has arrived that a number of councillors plan to fundamentally undermine the Regional Plan on Tuesday.
As you know, Steve Adams plans to move that the Urban Reserve behind Purcell’s Cove be designated Rural Commuter for a developer who bought the land five years after it was made Urban Reserve.
David Hendsbee has announced that he will move to have the Urban Reserve in Cherry Brook designated Urban Settlement, Continue reading →

The Backlands Coalition, with nine member groups signed up to date, was officially launched on Friday, Feb. 21, 2014. 

As you may have likely heard (and see posts below), a group of developers is attempting to make last-minute changes to the Regional Plan that would open the land behind Williams Lake to development, a move which would destroy a precious area as well as negate much of what we have gained through the Regional Planning process. Please attend as poss. to show public support for Regional Plan and distaste for the developers’ attempted end run. See Council Agenda