Article contentTwo reasons to put it offArticle contentIn a report released on Friday, HRM staff recommend that council defer moving forward with any bylaw amendments for two reasons:Article contentFirst, they say any regulation of infilling “would be premature at this time” because of a lack of provincial and federal support “in this area of the municipality.” Article contentDartmouth-Cole Harbour MP Darren Fisher has been a vocal opponent and wrote to the minister last year requesting a rescission of a decision to infill. MLA for Dartmouth South Claudia Chender has also spoken out in opposition to the project.Article contentThe second reason is that HRM’s Downtown Dartmouth Waterfront Revitalization project might “explore potential strategic infill.” Staff say there might be changes to land-use bylaws because of this project, and “the best approach at this time is to defer.”Article contentIn a statement, the Friends of Dartmouth Cove said deferring is unacceptable. “Staff’s claim that they need to ‘wait’ to avoid possible conflicts with federal and provincial bodies is nothing more than an excuse to do nothing. Dartmouth Cove cannot afford more stalling.”Article contentArticle contentMove-ahead motion incomingArticle contentWhile he understands the staff’s wait-and-see approach, Coun. Sam Austin (Dartmouth Centre) said he’s planning to bring forward a motion against staff advice.Article content“I’m not happy with the staff recommendation and I intend to ask my colleagues to vote it down and move an alternative recommendation that would actually do the protection of Dartmouth Cove that the public has been asking for.”Article contentWood said that by rejecting staff’s recommendation and moving forward, Austin “is more committed to being right and winning than doing the right thing and listening to what staff have to say.”Article contentAustin said he’s still working with staff on what exactly his motion will look like.Article content“I think we should be going for the full Northwest Arm slate of restrictions.”Article contentWhy can’t Dartmouth Cove be like Northwest Arm?Article contentThere’s no reason Dartmouth Cove shouldn’t get the full Northwest Arm treatment, McIntyre-Mills said.Article contentArticle contentThe only difference is that Dartmouth Cove has a substantial green space and is in a far less affluent side of town, she said.Article content“Looking at the 2021 census data, it’s hard to ignore the stark contrast between income levels,” she said, adding that income around the arm is upwards of $200,000 where Dartmouth Cove is closer to $70,000.Article content“I don’t want to say that progress favours the wealthy and well-connected but it does seem that way in this case, so why is it different here?”Article contentAs big-picture planning goes forward with Dartmouth Cove, it’s important “one-off” infilling projects don’t squeeze through in the meantime, said Austin.Article content“In the here and now, with no plan whatsoever, there’s no public appetite or support for infilling Dartmouth Cove. I understand that and I think that’s something that council should be supporting.”Article contentTown hall Monday nightArticle contentSave Dartmouth Cove is planning a town hall to discuss the report on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Mic Mac Aquatic Club in Dartmouth.Article content A notice for a public meeting concerning infilling along Dartmouth Cove posted along the harbour trail on Friday. Photo by Tim Krochak /The Chronicle HeraldArticle content“Now that we know staff’s recommendation is to defer, no action at this time, I would say the tone of the meeting is that we need to push council for a different option or to go back to staff and look at alternatives because this won’t cut it essentially,” said McIntyre-Mills.Article contentAustin said he’ll be there.Article content
Delaying infill protections unacceptable, says Friends of Dartmouth Cove
