Liana Tilley poses for a photo on her Eastern Passage property on Nov. 5. She and other Eastern Passage residents are opposed to two multi-unit housing buildings proposed for the community. Photo by Ryan Taplin /The Chronicle HeraldArticle contentEastern Passage residents are mobilizing to protest two waterfront developments they say are bigger than what’s allowed and are the result of a mistake made by HRM planners.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle content“It’s not rocket science: you don’t put high-density units in between single-family dwellings,” said Liana Tilley, who lives near the bigger of the two developments in question. “That’s not good city planning.”Article contentArticle contentArticle contentThe proposals are for a 64-unit building and a 22-unit building, both oceanfront on Main Road. They far exceed the 12-unit maximum for the area.Article content A design image for a development proposed in Eastern Passage. Photo by HRMArticle contentNeighbours say HRM staff made a mistake and tried to quietly fix it by pushing through bylaw amendments to allow the bigger builds but keep the 12-unit cap.Article content“If council is going to approve projects that contradict our planning laws, residents should expect a compelling, community-focused reason. In this case, there isn’t one,” reads their petition, which has over 500 signatures.Article contentA numbered Nova Scotia company owns the smaller proposal at 1509 Main Rd, and the larger, four-storey building at 1407 Main Road is owned by Fall River-based Wombat Investments Inc., which purchased the property last year.Article content A design image for a development proposed in Eastern Passage. Photo by HRMArticle content‘Build whatever they want’Article contentEastern Passage resident Steve Taylor said that by speaking to people involved in the developments, he understands that HRM asked for proposals and told developers over a year ago that they could pretty much build whatever they want.Article contentArticle contentSarah Brannen, HRM spokesperson, said in an email that isn’t the case.Article content“No, it is not correct that a request for proposals for development in this area was put out by the municipality,” she said. “There was a municipality-wide public engagement period held as part of the Urgent Changes to Planning Documents project (as part of the House Accelerator Fund Agreement with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) in which feedback and requests were received; however, this was not a request for proposals for development in this area.”Article contentThe mistakeArticle contentBrannen said that last May, council made urgent planning changes to enable housing and, at that time, removing the 12-unit cap was considered and included in public engagement activities.Article content“However, the attached legal text amendments implementing the approved changes also included removal of the 12-unit maximum, an option that had been discussed internally by staff but was not intended to be brought forward as part of a large package.”
Eastern Passage housing developments a mistake in more ways than one, say neighbours
