Halifax council to discuss expansion of north end Halifax car dealership

The expansion of a north-end Halifax car dealership will once again be before Halifax City Council.

On Tuesday, Councillor Jennifer Watts will introduce three motions, all related to concerns raised by the proposed expansion of Colonial Honda.

MORE: Colonial Honda buys dozens of North end properties, petitions, calls for action follow

One of those motions will look at the impact of having large, commercial dealerships placed outside the urban core.

“Certainly, it’s important to have some here but in terms of their own growth and trying to expand, in a situation with Colonial Honda, is there a way to have more of a dealership type area in a larger space that wouldn’t have such a dramatic impact on existing housing in the urban core,” said Jennifer Watts.

The dealership recently purchased 25 residential properties and plan to demolish them. It’s a decision that has been met with some backlash, including a protest outside the Robie Street car dealer last week.

WATCH: Protesters rally outside Colonial Honda – little to be done to halt north end expansion 

1:58 Homes Not Hondas rally protests Colonial Honda expansion

Tristan Cleveland with The Ecology Action Centre says the expansion sends a destructive signal.

“Right here, in the core of the peninsula, this is where we want to encourage people to move, to invest in, to create a really great community that people are proud of,” he tells Global News.

“If we replace three blocks with just parking for cars, it will send a signal that this is not a place to invest in, this is not a place to move to.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "If we replace three blocks with just parking for cars, it will send a signal that this is not a place to invest in, this is not a place to move to."

Watts will also ask council to look at a tool that other municipalities use, one that would allow them to put development on hold for a certain period of time, until proper consultation can take place.

She is also asking officials to look at the petition she presented in council last week and explain to residents why councillors can’t stop the demolition of the houses.

“This is in part to have staff respond in a written report that provides clarity of what opportunities or legislative abilities that the municipality has at this point in time so that people understand clearly why in this case, what the auto dealer is doing fits the zoning,” said Watts.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "This is in part to have staff respond in a written report that provides clarity of what opportunities or legislative abilities that the municipality has at this point in time so that people understand clearly why in this case, what the auto dealer is doing fits the zoning," said Watts.

“Good planning matters to the economy and this is not development, this is undevelopment of a community,” added Cleveland.