Hello everyone,
The new Centre Plan in Halifax passed through during the pandemic while we had little opportunity to have a voice in council, and it has been very jarring to learn how powerless we are to shape our communities as a result. I've been making every effort to learn specifically about what is going on with the lots at 2570 Windor and 6225 Willow now that they have been redesigned from Residential-2 to "COR"
The response from the mayor's "Advisor" Chelsea was as follows:
"Unfortunetly[sic] once the development is approved, there is no action that can be taken to alter the approved development proposal. As well, the center[sic] plan will not be subject to being altered as it was recently approved at council and went through extensive community consultation."
This is unacceptable. The community made it clear prior to the Centre Plan that large imposing buildings weren't welcome on this property. It is an insult to the community, as well as to the congregation of St. John's Church, to allow a developer to build a 7-storey building on the very same land that a multi-use facility that would support the local community was denied.
I have reached out to various media outlets, and have recently been contacted by CBC in an attempt to draw attention to this story. We shouldn't be powerless in a democracy, we shouldn't be powerless in our community. We have a voice, so let's use it. Write to our councillor (lindell.smith@halifax.ca for our Ward), and the mayor (mayor@halifax.ca). Proposals can be appeals, lots can be re-zoned (clearly), and we're only powerless if we give our power away to others.
Please sign and share this petition.