How could this have happened?

To the Editor:



I walk everyday down Gaspereau Avenue to Main Street. As I crest the slight hill at Acadia Street, the dykelands become visible and beyond the dykelands I can see a portion of the Cornwallis River. It’s now evident, with two stories of the Railtown development complete, that once the third storey and roof are built, much of this beautiful view will be gone.

How could this have happened? How could a building be permitted which obviously would destroy a portion of wonderful view of the dykelands from much of Wolfville?

I can think of at least three reasons.



1. I blame myself and other residents who did not attend meetings of the Planning Services Public Advisory Committee (PSPAC) and Town Council where the project was discussed and finally approved. Perhaps if there had been greater public participation, the outcome would have been different.

I have three simple suggestions which might increase public awareness and participation in planning decisions: post notices of meetings on the new kiosks; post notices on the site of future developments; and send notices and documents via the Internet to residents that request such information from the Town.



2. The development was approved by the Town Council only after it received a recommendation from the Town’s Planner and PSPAC.

The Town Planner, in her Planning Report, dated June 23, 2005 stated on page 3: “View toward the dykes. The current buildings on the lot essentially block the view onto the dykes now. The view plane to the dykes is across the Town parking lot located to the east of the proposed development.�

The Town Planner’s position is startling in light of the fact that in same Planning Report, at page 4, an outsider, who appears to be more familiar with the geography of Wolfville than the Town Planner, states the obvious.

“The application was reviewed by Jim Bezanson, architect and Heritage Officer for the City of Saint John, during his visit for the Heritage Planning Workshop in early June. His paraphrased comments are as follows after looking at the site:



Context is everything. Wolfville sits on a hillside like an amphitheatre; this development could read like a wall in front of the water. It’s a tricky balance with high risk. At the most it should be residential and two storeys high. Approach Town Council with an MPS amendment that will prove that the Developer and the community can work together....



Mr. Bezanson’s common sense views had been circulated to the Council members. Nevertheless, Mr. Bezanson’s comments were not addressed by any of the Town Council members prior to their approval of the development.



3. Deputy Mayor Wrye declared twice during the Aug. 22 Council meeting that the development meets the requirements of the Municipal Planning Strategy and the Land Use Bylaws. If this three-storey development, which will obviously obstruct views of the dykelands from upland portions of the Town and will be taller than any of the surrounding buildings, meets the requirements of the MPS and Land Use Bylaws, then it may be time for the MPS and Bylaws to be revised.

Fortunately, both the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaws are in the process of being rewritten. The process is in the early stages, but now is the time for residents to participate, to have a voice in new Town planning documents that will hopefully better protect the things unique and special in Wolfville.



David A. Daniels

Wolfville, NS