Halifax starts planning for new neighbourhood in Exhibition Park

Halifax has started planning for a new neighbourhood at Exhibition Park, although some councillors raised concerns about what thousands of new residents would mean for local traffic and infrastructure.

On Tuesday, regional council green-lit the planning process that would enable a new neighbourhood on a 46-hectare site located southwest of downtown Halifax.

Property owner, BANC Group, would like to build 20 townhomes and 28 multi-unit buildings ranging from six to 24 storeys on the site, as well as new roads and parkland. But staff said multiple studies must be completed before they could recommend whether it goes ahead or not.

According to BANC's submission, this would create about 5,800 housing units and bring about 12,000 people to the suburban area.

The city has designated the land as a place for growth, but area Coun. Patty Cuttell worried the developer's proposal was driving the process rather than the municipality deciding first what should go there.

"We're starting with a proposal that seems so extreme and out of scope from what … the vision of the community is," Cuttell said during the meeting.

The site is across the road from the Ragged Lake Business Park and beside popular Long Lake Provincial Park. It's currently home to the Halifax Exhibition Centre, a go-kart track and gas station.

Cuttell said she's worried about adding thousands of new cars to Prospect Road, which is already very busy and is the only way in or out of the area. As it is a provincial road, city staff will also have to coordinate with that level of government about any changes.

She also said a "reality check" was needed about the possibility this development could create a walkable community, served by more transit and active transportation like bike lanes.

"To think that this is going to be a car-free community, at this point I just don't see the reality of that," Cuttell said.

There are water and sewer services on the lands now, but Cuttell and others had concerns about what upgrades to that system could cost the city down the road.

Cuttell asked to defer the process until council had more information on other plans related to development and planning in the area, like the Ragged Lake expansion, but that was voted down.

Planning staff said Tuesday that the process will examine how much density is appropriate on the site, and there will be various traffic, infrastructure and environmental studies that will inform what is eventually built.

Other councillors also brought up the importance of ensuring land will be set aside for schools and recreation centres on the site, while protecting wildlife corridors.

Coun. Shawn Cleary said it's very likely the development built on the lands will look completely different from BANC's proposal, and there is a "long process ahead of us to make this good."

"If staff don't think this is the right place for this kind of thing, they will say so," Cleary said.

While the planning process was approved by the majority of council and will go ahead, councillors Sam Austin, Kathryn Morse, Patty Cuttell and Iona Stoddard voted against it.

The public will be able to weigh in on the proposal and plans through online surveys, letters to residents, meetings and a public hearing before any final decisions are made.