Monthly Executive Meeting
Thursday Sept 13, 2007
Community Hall
Executive in attendance: Jane Rathbun, Charles Wagner, Bill Lockhart, Kevin O’Halloran, Steve Saunders, Dave MacDonald(Chair).
Absent: Faye Langille, Charles Schafer.
Guests: Councilor Krista Snow, David McCusker, Traffic Planning Dept-HRM
Meeting called to Order by Chair at 7:30pm
Information on Proposed New Inland Container Terminal
(ICT)
Guests were welcomed and David McCusker was introduced to the executive as HRM Staff person invited to talk about the recent consultant’s study that was presented to Council in Jan that has recommended Rocky Lake Drive as the best site out of six others for a proposed new Inland Container Terminal to serve the Port of Halifax.
Mr. McCusker began with background why HRM undertook this Phase I study, he noted;
Currently 30-40 % of containers move through the port either arrive or leave by truck for locations within Atlantic Canada.
HRM is seeking ways to remove this truck traffic from downtown core waterfront streets
HRM sees land development opportunities for both present container sites once current storage space becomes obsolete after a new ICT is established at Rocky Lake Drive.
Re-location of container storage to Rocky Lake Drive will remove the accident risks currently faced by the current sites as well as those associated with the trucking of containers in downtown Halifax.
He provided a handout showing the layout of the ICT on the Rocky Lake Drive site location; this layout is included in the Phase I report.
He also stated that a new Phase II study is currently underway to develop a business plan to support the feasibility of developing the Rocky Lake Drive site; it is expected to be completed in Jan 08. This Phase II study will consider the environmental impact to the proposed site as well as the social impact to the surrounding communities . There is one planned outreach session for Waverley and Lakeview and also one for the South-end of Halifax. These are intended as opportunities for the residents to offer input to the consultant as part of the preparation of the feasibility recommendations.
It was also noted that The Executive engaged in asking a variety of questions pertaining to this project.
Of particular importance to Steve Saunders were noise problems when container handling work is done during the night-time, noise from train shunting at night. Other concerns raised are the increase in truck traffic on the local roads and risk of container damage spills into the near-by lakes. Also, a decrease in property values was noted.
Mr. McCusker noted that to help deal with the traffic the proposed Burnside Expressway will need to be built before this new ICT can go ahead. He said these are valid concerns that can be addressed in the public input sessions being planned as part of the current on-going Phase II study.
At the conclusion of his presentation the Executive thanked him for attending the meeting; Krista Snow also excused herself from the meeting due to another commitment.
The Executive proceeded to address other items of business.
The main reason for having the special meeting was to have the members vote to approve the proposed change of use of the current side-walk area rate over to a community improvement project fund. The Executive agreed and the Chair will draft a special notice flyer to mail out to all residents.
Discussion followed as to whether the ICT issue should be included in the agenda for the up-coming Special Meeting on Sept 27. There was agreement to include it as an “information session”. It was also agreed that Mr. McCusker should be asked by the Chair to attend and present this information to the residents. The Chair agreed to do so.
Kevin O’Halloran briefly noted the recent Gold Rush celibrations were considered a success yet as Chair for this annual event he requested if WRA would be able to provide a donation of $1000. to assist with the cost of putting on this event.
The Executive agreed unanimously to provide $1000 to Gold Rush.
Kevin O’Halloran outlined to the Executive that the NSCC is planning this volinteer opportunity for it’s students. The WRA may take advantage of this offer by submitting a community based project which the NSCC students could perform in one day. Any materials required would be provided by WRA. The Exec. Welcomed this opportunity and discussed a variety of possible projects and finally agreed to request repairs to the Gazebo on the Green and installing a wheelchair ramp would be submitted . Kevin will submit this request for WRA.
Discussion followed and the Chair clarified that exchanging messages among executive members on their personal computers is to be considered as personal and confidential corespondance and is not to be released by a member to anyone outside the Executive. However, if a subject is addressed in which the Chair requests the Executive members to approve a decision by a ‘vote’ using e-mails then such a vote will be considered as “public information”.
Meeting Adjourned at 9:40pm, moved by Charlie Wagner
Minutes prepared by Dave MacDonald