Halifax council couldn't have stopped Honda parking lot, report says

Halifax council couldn't have stopped Steele Auto Group bulldozing a north-end neighbourhood to expand its car dealership, according to a newly released information report.

Over the last six months, Steele Auto Group bought 25 properties in the neighbourhood bordered by Fern Lane and May,North and Robie streets, with permits to demolish 17 of those.

• Halifax Honda dealership demolition begins
• Steele Auto Group to bulldoze north-end Halifax neighbourhood

That plan prompted protest and public outcry from members of the community who started a campaign called Homes not Hondas.

That group submitted a petition for Halifax Regional Council to step in and prevent the demolition of the homes.

But a report being presented to council Tuesday shows that, even if it wanted to, council would have been unable to intervene in Steele's plan.

While the city can push for owners to demolish a property that has become unsafe, it cannot prevent the demolition of privately-owned buildings, the report said.

"Even in cases where a building is a municipally registered heritage property, council does not have the ability to prohibit demolition," said Carl Purvis, a municipal plannerwho preparedthe report.

He noted that according to the Nova Scotia Heritage Property Act, even if the municipality denies a permit to demolish a heritage building, the owner can still demolish it after a three-year wait.

'You just get used to your neighbourhood'

Coun. Jennifer Watts, who represents the community,said the report illustrateswhy it's important residentsget involved in the re-zoning process for the city centrecurrently underway.

The C-2 zoning category, under which the north-end neighbourhood falls, allows for a mix of commercial and residential properties. Because of that, Watts saidsome people find it surprising when a large commercial application gets approved near their home.

"I think you just get used to your neighbourhood, you look out your door, you think well this is the way it looks and that's the way it will stay. Until someone puts in a proposal," she said.

"Sometimes it's hard for people to understand the potential for the changes in their neighbourhood, and that's why it's really important to pay attention when things are being proposed, particularly right now in the centre plan with the growth scenarios."

Watts said the regional council's planning and legal departments both said it was clear the Steele expansion was well withinthe current bylaws when it comes to development in that zoning area.

Balancingprogress,fabric of community

As council moves forward with its centre plan, which is expected to be before council in late 2016, Watts said there will be a variety of public consultation sessions and ample opportunity for residents to get familiar with proposals in their neighbourhoods.

I think you just get used to your neighbourhood until someone puts in a proposal.- Jennifer Watts

In particular, Watts said it's "really critical" to take a closer look at C-2 zoning areas.

"People love living in the existing neighbourhoods that are here now so it's trying to find how to put that density in, have it be supportive of the existing fabric of the neighbourhoods, and yet allow for growth and for new people to live here on the peninsula," said Watts.

"It's a balance, but I think that's what our planning staff are looking for but that's one of the reasons why people really need to pay attention over the next six to eight months about what's happening, what's being proposed, providing feedback, following that process very carefully."

The next community consultation meeting is Monday evening to determine how the potential redevelopmentof the former Bloomfield school site fits with the centre plan.