HALIFAX - “In HRM, we have a traffic problem. We need to get people out of their cars,” one HRM resident succinctly surmised at the public meeting regarding the potential widening of Bayers Road held Wednesday evening. “Let’s put money into sustainable, accessible, community-building strategies” which include transit and active transit routes, was the overwhelming message voiced by the 300 or so citizens that attended the public meeting. They demanded that the widening be removed from the Road Network Functional Plan, which is due to be approved by Council later this month.

In honour of Councilor Jennifer Watt's recent motion to Council to impose a ban on mega-concerts on the Halifax Common (up for debate at next week's council meeting), Spacing Atlantic welcomes Jayme Melrose's thoughts on the state of community consultation and collaboration (or lack thereof) throughout the Common development process.  Kindly cross-posted from the Halifax Media Co-op. For more information on the content of the planned 'improvements' and their debate, see Katie McKay's earlier article. HALIFAX - No planner worth their salt would make a planning decision without consulting the public first,” says Maureen Ryan, a senior planner with HRM.  But in January of this year, when HRM presented their plan for spending $3 million dollars on the Halifax North Common, the 'consultation' was little more than an information session, where residents had the opportunity to submit written comments. Even if a meaningful consultation had taken place, some citizens, academics, and community planners agree that consultation is not enough.  They say the planning process, especially for a public space like the Halifax Common, can and should be done in a collaborative and participatory manner.