Nova Scotia·NewA proposed development in the Halifax area off the Highway 102 corridor has some residents raising concerns about the size of the project and the cost to taxpayers. ‘It is the most nonsensical thing I’ve ever heard in my life,’ says community group chairMeig Campbell · CBC News · Posted: Nov 19, 2025 4:05 PM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Proposed developments off the Highway 102 corridor in the Halifax area will happen around the Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes area. (Brian MacKay/CBC)Development plans for a large swath of land in the Halifax area off the Highway 102 corridor are only in their preliminary stages but they are causing a stir among some residents. Dozens of people who attended an open house at a Bedford church on Wednesday weighed in on plans shared by developers and city staff for 255 hectares of land west of Highway 102 between Kearney Lake Road and Lacewood Drive.The corridor of land, which abuts the Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes area, was designated a special planning area in May, one of 16 spots where the province has taken over development approval from Halifax regional council to fast-track housing development.The B.D. Stevens Group and the Annapolis Group are proposing two developments that would include commercial space and about 11,400 housing units that would accommodate a population of 21,326.“We’re talking about a subdivision that’s bigger than Truro in population, stuffed into a few hundred acres with two points of entry,” said Mary Ann McGrath, chair of Friends of Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes.”It is the most nonsensical thing I’ve ever heard in my life,” said McGrath, whose organization was set up down the hall from the open house to share information about the implications of the development, including a cost to taxpayers she estimates will exceed $200 million.Mary Ann McGrath is the chair of the Friends of Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes organization. (Brian MacKay/CBC)McGrath said her organization is in favour of new housing, but not to the extent proposed by these developments.“Take the 200 million and buy [the land]. Put in ball fields. Put in a couple of schools. God knows the neighbourhood needs them,” said McGrath.Resident Richard Vinson, who attended Wednesday’s event, also questioned the feasibility of the development.“I’d like to see everybody take a step back and take a deep breath and say, how is this even possible?” said Vinson. “I mean, the costs of the taxpayer are going to be significant.”But not everyone was opposed to the development plans.Em Cooper, who lives near what the municipality calls the Highway 102 West Corridor special planning area, says new development is needed in the area. “I think if we’re in this planning stage, it’s good to plan for population growth rather than just kind of adding it on afterwards,” said Cooper.People at Wednesday’s open house look over the plans to develop the Highway 102 West Corridor special planning area. (Brian MacKay/CBC)Ross Grant, a planner with Halifax Regional Municipality, said the development is in its beginning stages and plans can be modified as things progress.“As we proceed through the planning process, more analysis on … just infrastructure in general will be undertaken and the potential cost of that will be refined as we go through the process,” said Grant. Grant said a project of this size would take 18 to 24 months to plan. When Growth and Development Minister Colton LeBlanc announced the designation of the tract of land as a special planning area, he also asked the municipality to start secondary planning work. Secondary planning looks at infrastructure needs that include water, sewer and transportation.Another phase of public engagement will be among the next steps once the city has finalized draft planning policies for the area.MORE TOP STORIES ABOUT THE AUTHORMeig Campbell is a reporter for CBC Nova Scotia. You can email her with story ideas and feedback at meig.campbell@cbc.ca
Plans for Halifax-area development off Highway 102 corridor raise concerns
