News Release
Councillor Takes Steps to Protect Shubie Park, Adjacent Lands
(Friday, December 3/04)--
District 6 Councillor Andrew Younger is taking steps to protect
Shubie Park and adjacent lands from any potential development threats
in the future.
The East Dartmouth - The Lakes Councillor has initiated the process
of re-zoning lands in, and adjoining, Shubie Park to Park Zone.
"One of my priorities is protecting Dartmouth's public parklands
and the lake watershed for generations to come," says Councillor
Younger. "The first step in protecting and preserving these
lands is to ensure they are properly zoned."
Currently, only the land on the campground side of Shubie Park is
zoned "Parkland".
HRM lands south of Lake MicMac and southwest of Lake Charles, are
zoned "Holding," which permits a wide range of development
possibilities (i.e. permits single unit dwellings and limited recreational
and institutional uses). Lands within Shubie Park to the southwest
of the Shubenacadie Canal are also zoned "Holding". A
small portion of land within the park is zoned "Commercial"(Note:
the Fairbanks Centre/interpretive centre is zoned R-1 and should
not change because this zone allows for museums - Park Zone will
not be applied)
Councillor Younger said that in 1975, the Halifax-Dartmouth Regional
Plan designated all the above lands as part of a proposed regional
park system. However, little or no action was taken on this plan;
and, as a result, lands located across from the MicMac Mall were
subsequently developed for residential use. While HRM has no current
plans to develop or sell any of these lands, re-zoning will offer
better protection and a level of comfort for area residents regarding
these lands.
One portion of the lands includes a part of the former O'Toole Estate,
located between Highway 118 and the shores of Lake Charles, which
was originally purchased for Akerley Boulevard and Industrial/Commercial
purposes. The entire O'Toole estate fronted Windmill Road, and while
most of it has been used for the expansion of Burnside Industrial
Park , the portion between Highway 118 and Lake Charles remains
untouched. It consists of approximately 300 acres. This property
is adjacent to the site of a proposed new Highway 118 interchange.
Councillor Younger says the re-zoning application is expected to
go before Harbour East Community Council on January 6. A public
hearing would follow in late January or early February.
–30--
Councillor Andrew Younger
(902) 476-1727 (cell)
