‘Cart before the horse’: Site prep work approved before development plans in HRM
'It's really bad planning, because why clear a site before you have the final design?' said Karen McKendry, the Ecology Action Centre's senior wilderness outreach coordinator.
Nova Scotia has approved land preparation work in several planning zones within the Halifax Regional Municipality, including Sandy Lake, ahead of finalized development designs. The work, which includes removing trees, blasting, and earthwork, has been criticized as "cart before the horse" planning, as it proceeds without the necessary design plans.
Karen McKendry, senior wilderness outreach coordinator at the Ecology Action Centre, expressed concern over the destruction of old-growth forests, wetlands, and streams. The provincial government approved these projects last month with the aim of increasing housing stock and easing traffic congestion. However, McKendry argues that this approach is environmentally unsound and lacking in public consultation.
Local councillor Kathryn Morse echoed these concerns, stating that the special-planning areas are not being used for good community planning, but rather to build housing without the necessary infrastructure. Housing Minister John White defended the Sandy Lake project, emphasizing its focus on addressing traffic and housing challenges in the area.
Morse believes that planning and development should remain within the municipality's control, as provincial override results in more expensive and less ideal development.
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