{"id":8484,"date":"2023-12-02T20:19:15","date_gmt":"2023-12-02T20:19:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/versicolor.ca\/sandylakebedford\/?p=8484"},"modified":"2023-12-02T22:09:57","modified_gmt":"2023-12-02T22:09:57","slug":"bedford-west-development-plans-approved-by-province-significant-environmental-concerns-remain-2-dec-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/versicolor.ca\/sandylakebedford\/2023\/12\/02\/bedford-west-development-plans-approved-by-province-significant-environmental-concerns-remain-2-dec-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Bedford West Development Plans approved by Province, significant environmental concerns remain 2Dec2023"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Map from HRM Document<\/a> showing Areas 1&12<\/p><\/div>\n

View: Housing Developments Approved for Bedford West<\/a><\/strong>
\nNova Scotia Government. News Release, Municipal Affairs and Housing November 28, 2023<\/p>\n

“On the recommendation of the Executive Panel on Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr has granted approvals that will enable the development of up to 2,060 homes in the following sub-areas of Bedford West:<\/em>
\n– Bedford West 10 (subsections B and C)…<\/em>
\n– Bedford West 1 and 12<\/strong> \u2013 Phase 1; the proposed development by MICCO WBHL Developments GP Limited includes up to 579 residential units consisting of 470 apartments and 109 townhomes and semi-attached or single-family units<\/em>
\n– Bedford West 1 and 12 \u2013 Phase 3;…”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Bedford West 1&12 enclose some of the headwaters for Sandy Lake<\/p>\n

An article by Linden Thomas in The Signal, Dec 1, 2023: Fast-tracked development in Bedford raises environmental concerns<\/a><\/strong> provides a good overview of the related environmental concerns. <\/p>\n

Some extracts From that article:<\/p>\n

A fast-tracked housing development in Bedford could allow a critical wildlife passageway near Blue Mountain Birch Cove Lakes wilderness area to be bulldozed…Karen McKendry, senior wilderness outreach co-ordinator for the Ecology Action Centre, said developers could bulldoze a 100-metre tract of wilderness that is allowing wildlife to travel between Blue Mountain Birch Cove Lakes wilderness area and Sandy Lake Park.<\/em><\/p>\n

Richard leBrasseur, director of the Green Infrastructure Performance Lab at Dalhousie University, is concerned about the potential survival of amphibians such as salamanders and reptiles such as snakes. The eastern ribbon snake is a threatened species in Nova Scotia.<\/em><\/p>\n

Robinson said the development will increase road salt and debris in nearby waterways that are connected to Sandy Lake through a network of rivers and streams. \u201c[If] they change the temperature and the pollution levels in Sandy Lake by developing, then the salmon will go again because they can\u2019t stay in a place unless it has particular qualities,\u201d Robinson said.<\/em><\/p>\n

Retired Dalhousie University biology professor David Patriquin argues larger forested setbacks around the wetlands can hold water, protecting the development from flooding. \u201cUntil we had these extreme rains, we didn\u2019t really appreciate how much these wetlands protect us,\u201d says Patriquin, referencing the municipality\u2019s floods last July. <\/em><\/p>\n

Bedford city councillor Tim Outhit said he hadn\u2019t expected the planning requirements to be so controversial. \u201c[The buffer] was 20 metres, [and now] we\u2019ve increased it to 30 metres, which should have made advocates a little happier and \u2026 developers a little bit happier,\u201d said Outhit.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Also view: Regarding Case 23307 \u2013 Bedford West subareas 12 & 1 Special Planning Area 25Jul2023<\/a><\/strong>
\nPost on this website July 25, 2023.<\/p>\n

Photos and some text from that post:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Top: View of Northern edge of a large wetland in Bedford West subarea 12;<\/strong> it lies on a headwater stream for Sandy Lake. \u00a0Bottom:\u00a0 Google map of the area<\/strong> Click on image for larger version<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Some important features of\u00a0 BW12&1 and just downstream:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n