The Communities of Preston, Mineville, Lake Echo and Porters Lake have been fighting a proposed rezoning of an area on highway #7 which would allow a c&d facility.

The designation of the area is Mixed Use. The Municipal Planning Strategy outlines that the designation was meant to address the marked desire of residents to maintain traditional development rights, the existing character of the communities, and the integrity of the natural environment. It is the intent of the municipal plan to allow for a fairly complete range of uses but to restrict certain types of residential, commercial and industrial uses which could detract from the character of the community or be detrimental to the natural environment.”

A c&d would be detrimental to the community and to the natural enviroment of the area. This proposed c&d waste site would have an adverse affect to our communities. There would be noise, dust, air pollution and an increase of heavy truck traffic. There would also be the danger of ground water contamination.

The HRM Planning Department collected a great deal of data, information and community input to review and seemingly applied the Municipal Planning Strategy and relevant by-laws in a balanced manner before arriving at the recommendation to not approve the rezoning application. Mr. Bellefontaine appealed the decision and the Utility Review Board ruled against the HRM planners recommendation.

The HRM planners deemed this site not suitable for a c&d facility. HRM councilors voted against rezoning the area to allow a c&d. The Utility board ruled against the HRM planners as well as ruled against the councilors of Harbour East - Marine Drive Community.

We are asking the HRM councilors to appeal this controversial decision by the utility review board and to stop this area of the #7 highway from being rezoned to allow a c&d facility.