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Petition opposes subdivision ban near airport
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20/mar/2010 |
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Petition opposes subdivision ban near airport
By BILL POWER Business Reporter
Thu. Mar 18 - 4:54 AMA group of property owners opposing a ban on new subdivisions around Halifax Stanfield International Airport ramped up its campaign Wednesday with the release of a petition signed by more than 300 people. "The fact more than 300 people signed a petition opposing the plan in just one week speaks for itself," said Enfield resident Peter Buote, a spokesman for the group, which doesn’t have a formal name. "The buffer zone effectively restricts any further development by families and businesses who own significant amounts of property over an area that is much larger than anything the airport requires for noise control." The petition is to be presented to Halifax regional council as part of the group’s efforts to quash the rezoning proposal. "We’re all for future growth at the airport but not at the expense of a cap being placed on the future value of our properties," Buote said. Halifax International Airport Authority has applied to the municipality for a zone change that would ban new subdivisions on an airplane-shaped piece of land about 15 kilometres long and about 10 kilometres wide. Authority officials indicated the move is designed to stave off noise complaints from future neighbours. Urban sprawl has overrun some airports in other Canadian cities and noise complaints have been an issue. A municipal staff report on the proposal states restrictions on development would affect only areas where noise levels are forecasted to produce complaints and possible opposition. There is a concern a developer might put in a large subdivision near the airport and the authority would find itself in a legal struggle to operate round the clock. "Approval of the zone change would keep land values at today’s value," Buote said. "This is totally unfair to the landowners. "This is great for the authority because then it can get land at lower costs when required for expansion." Coun. Steve Streatch (Eastern Shore-Musquodoboit Valley) said he will table the petition at city hall Tuesday and call for rejection of the proposed zoning change. "This application is akin to expropriation without compensation," Streatch said. He said he understands the request for the zoning change relates to some guidelines that recently came down from the federal government. "In the 12 years I’ve been on council, I’ve never heard of a noise complaint coming from any of the communities near the airport."
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