Proposed Blue Mountain park boundaries ‘deeply disappointing’: activist

The Ecology Action Centre is calling a report on the Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes regional park boundaries “deeply disappointing.”

Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes, an area of forests and wetlands, featuring lakes and granite barrens, lies behind the Bayers Lake business park and Timberlea area.

The Nova Scotia Government designated sections of the area as a wilderness area in 2009. Much of the remaining land in the area is owned by independent developers.

The report, facilitated by Justice Heather Robertson, outlines proposed development around the Birch Cove Lakes to the edge of the boundary where the protected area is.

Raymond Plourde, wilderness coordinator with the Ecology Action Centre says the facilitators report is flawed.

“It’s deeply disappointing. It presents the same map the developers asked for and were refused 10 years ago,” Plourde said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's deeply disappointing. It presents the same map the developers asked for and were refused 10 years ago," Plourde said.

Plourde says the city has tossed around the idea of a regional park in the area for about 10 years, but has yet to acquire any of the land, despite having more than one opportunity.

“Two of the pieces of land necessary have come up on the market, and the city didn’t act on them. ”

“Are we going to allow urban sprawl to just consume this magnificent natural jewel that would be such a wonderful asset to the quality of life in Halifax?” Plourde said.

Plourde hopes one day the park will be developed into a space people from across the municipality can enjoy.

“If we ever get this park created the way it is envisioned, it would rival any of the great parks of the world. It would be an asset most cities would kill for.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "If we ever get this park created the way it is envisioned, it would rival any of the great parks of the world. It would be an asset most cities would kill for."

Annapolis Group and Stevens Group both privately own a combined 1,308 acres of land in the area. Annapolis Group is offering to sell 210 acres of parkland surplus for $6 million. The city values the parkland at approximately $2.8 million.

Two-hundred-ninety-one acres of Annapolis Group’s land and most of Stevens Group land is zoned as urban reserve — where service development could occur outside the 25 year time horizon of the 2006 Regional Planning Strategy.

Halifax Regional Council is seeking feedback from the public on an independent facilitators report regarding proposed boundaries for a regional park.

A presentation will be open to the public on the report and will take place June 20. Written comments will be accepted until July 4.