The HRM Municipal Plan Needs Vision
The HRM Municipal Planning Strategy shows us, the citizens of HRM, and more specifically, the residents of each District the development plans for their areas. It is not a detailed plan, nor is it inviolable. It is a tool that indicates areas that are targeted for high and medium density building, and it indicates the plan for road development.
The Municipal Plan is a reasonable document, and should be used as part of any planning strategy for development in our communities. It requires a proactive approach on behalf of the community, a vision of how Districts will develop in the context of the plan.
If we want to have green neighbourhoods, and sincere options for people to go green, we must begin to work ‘The Plan’. We must be proactive as Districts, not just in the communities. What we do in our Districts speaks to how we want to live as a community. Issues of fuel pricing, green options, tax reform and diversity can all be supported through understanding and working the Municipal Plan.
Our neighbourhoods are going to change. How they change depends on community participation in developing that vision. Council is the first step in promoting a vision, so it is important to vote people to council that can articulate that vision. Do your homework, get out and vote, and participate in the change you want to see.
By Katie Campbell
This article appears in Oct 9-15, 2008.