Halifax construction project guidelines aim to cut disruptions

Halifax municipal staff have come up with proposed guidelines aimed at minimizing the impact of construction projects on citizens by addressing potential problems such as noise, dust, street and sidewalk closures, reduced parking and accessibility.

Waye Mason, councillor for Peninsula South Downtown, requested the guidelines after eight small business owners in downtown Halifax said construction of the Nova Centre had hurt their bottom lines and called for financial compensation.

'It's huge'

Lil MacPherson, co-owner of the Wooden Monkey, collaborated with city staff on the construction mitigation proposal. Her restaurant windows overlook the Nova Centre construction site.

"When you have a big construction site come into your area, into your neighbourhood in front of your business, it's huge. It's parking, it's street closures, it's pylons it's garbage and noise and there's all kinds of things, turning off water and electricity," said MacPherson, adding that the restaurant has taken a hit since the construction work began.

"There's a lot going on and I think people really need to realize what their rights are.

"You can't have a big construction site and not involve the economy around it."

• Nova Centre construction leads to calls for compensation

The proposed guidelines, which must be approved by council before coming into force, would require developers to provide the city with a construction mitigation plan.

Clearing the way for pedestrians

The mitigation plan would include proposed detours, relocated bus stops and temporary sidewalks, as well as special measures to accommodate the visually impaired. The developer must also agree to clear pedestrian routes of snow and ice.

A parking plan

According to the proposed guidelines, developers would be required to specify the number of unusable parking spots, and identify any temporary parking. They would also be required to compensate the city for lost revenue from parking meters. In some cases the city might agree to relax parking restrictions on nearby streets to address lost parking.

Beautifying fencing

The guidelines also propose an incentive to encourage developers to make safety barriers more aesthetically pleasing by offering a 50 per cent reduction in encroachment fees.

Beautification options include posting drawings of the project, sales information, local advertising and community murals.

Restricting noise and dust

The mitigation plan would require construction sites to adhere to the city's noise bylaw, including holiday and weekend restrictions. In cases where a development site is located near a school or hospital, developers might even be required to build noise barriers.

The plan also suggests dust control measures, including the use of a watering truck in dry conditions.

• Nova Centre construction costing Halifax businesses

Consulting with the community

Finally, the proposal calls for a mandatory pre-construction meeting, to take place no later than 10 days before breaking ground. It might include a representative from the local business community or community groups.

A representative from the construction project would also be required to hand deliver notifications to neighbouring businesses and property owners about any street closures or utility shutdowns.

A draft of the proposed guidelines is currently available online. City staff are also organizing an open house in Halifax on Monday from noon to 6 p.m. in the Ralph M. Medjuck building (the main building for Dalhousie's faculty of architecture and planning) at 5410 Spring Garden Rd.

Staff plan to make a short presentation every hour during that timeframe.

The city is also conducting an online poll on the subject.