Residents concerned about car lot expansion, Councillor says clarification needed

HALIFAX – One Halifax Regional councillor says HRM is looking at existing zoning and planning strategies to see what can be done as a number of north-end residents are concerned about a plan by Steele Auto Group to expand its parking lot on Robie Street.

The company plans to expand its lot after buying at least 25 homes in the area of their existing location, near Robie Street and McCully Street, with 17 demolition permits issued for the homes.

The plan, which doesn’t include the construction of any buildings, is to expand the outdoor show space and parking lot for the dealership, which has drawn the ire of some in the area, who want to maintain the residential atmosphere.

Area Councillor Jennifer Watts said the company is well within its right to perform the proposed expansion, but her and her staff are looking at other options to ensure existing housing can be properly protected.

She said the area is already zoned for light-industrial use and said more discussion needs to be had about whether the north-end needs more of that.

“The question is do we need to expand them and … is that the direction we want to be going in and in fact, tearing down existing housing to get there?”

“This is the tension I think we’re experiencing right now…we have long-standing existing industrial, commercial and light industrial uses in the north-end,” Watts said, pointing to Kempt Road and other areas along Robie Street.

The development plan has been submitted to Halifax Regional Municipality, and Watts has heard from a number of concerned residents about the plan, while the city is looking at what options the city has at its disposal.

Watts said HRM is also looking at a clause in the Municipal Plan that states that existing housing should be maintained if possible, or if some other plan would override the current plans.

She said she was confident after meeting with Steele Auto Group that they will do their best to integrate the commercial parking lot into the existing residential piece of the neighbourhood, but said HRM may have no options.

Watts said the area remains a commercial parking lot, so that zoning can’t be changed, but said options are being explored by the company to include things like impervious asphalt, or the addition of trees and changes to certain design elements to maintain the space.

While understanding the need to balance the right of property owners with concerns of residents, Watts also encouraged citizens to keep an eye on the HRM’s Central Development Plan, which deals with the zoning of areas such as the one in question.

Watts encouraged anyone concerned about the future development in the city to attend consultations dealing the Plan, with a meeting scheduled in her riding May 11 at the Halifax Forum.

Facebook group set up, petition started

A Facebook group called ‘Homes Not Hondas’ has been set up in opposition to the plan, while a petition on Change.org against the plan has garnered over 1,000 supporters.

FB housing

Brenden Sommerhalder started the petition and is running in this fall’s municipal election for a seat in the north-end, which will be left vacant by Watts, who has decided not to re-offer.

“We are asking Steele Auto Group to reconsider the destruction of this residential neighbourhood,” Sommerhalder writes in the petition.

“There has been no progress in working with Steele on this matter. The time has come for public pressure.”

 

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