Upland Studio initially requested substantive amendments to an existing development agreement for lands at 70-80 First Lake Drive, Lower Sackville, to allow for 3 new buildings ranging from 6 to 22 storeys in height, housing a total of 800 residential units and additional commercial space. Since then, they have re-submitted their proposal under a number of applications to get it through the approval process. The first application is for 2 six story buildings (154 units). There is also an application for an additional 2 buildings (495 units) to proceed under a different & separate planning process. 

This development would increase the population of the surrounding community, put significant strain on the existing schools in the area, it will have significant impact on adjacent residential dwellings, it will overload sewer capacity in a system which already has issues and increase traffic on an already conjected road. Further commercial development at that site has to take into consideration impact on Sackville Drive commercial sector and the local business association.

The area that the project is proposed in is a residential area with single occupancy homes and 3 multiple dwelling apartment buildings. The impact from the size of this proposal is significant and does not meet the intent of the Municipal Planning Strategy. The strategy designates Sackville as "Urban Residential" and allows for development which is "typical and appropriate to the existing residential environment... [allowing for] higher density residential development... without general conflict". In this case what is being requested is an amendment to both  "... the land use by-law [and] development agreement" which would deem this development as appropriate for this area. 

Land use bylaws currently in place in Sackville prohibit this type of construction. “27 (a) The height of a building in all zones shall be not more than 50ft (15.24m) in height measured from the established grade at front property line.” 

Any redevelopment plan should take a holistic cohesive approach and HRM should present the entire plan for redevelopment to the public for review. Allowing developers to split plans of this magnitude does not allow the community to participate in decisions involving their community and gives developers the upper hand. 

The current plan is to subdivide the property into 3 parcels and to develop them through multiple applications. 

Comments can be sent to Dean MacDougall Planner III Development Services Email: macdoude@halifax.ca

By signing this petition, you are stating that you are opposed to this development plan and that the proposals are not keeping with the intent of the Sackville Municipal Planning Strategy and are stating that the Halifax City Council must vote against this proposal.