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Old Posted Feb 17, 2014, 4:53 PM
counterfactual counterfactual is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Drybrain View Post
I think the idea that Halifax is super-NIMBYish comes from the simplistic heritage vs. development story played up in the local media. It's basically the same as anywhere else, with the exception of the Heritage Trust--who seem, thankfully, to be waning in influence.
I'm not sure that Halifax *isn't* any more NIMBY than other places; but I would say that if it is, it's not by magnitudes moreso. But this is a dead end debate, I'm not sure either of us will be able to prove or disprove the proposition.

That said, I think we *can* say that Halifax NIMBYs have, in recent decades, wielded a disproportionate share of power in HRM's the development approval process, compared to places like Toronto or Vancouver.

Toronto has three streams: Complex, Routine, and Quick. Complex proposals (dictated by density and required by-law amendments) require a much longer approval process, with community input; but there is an opportunity for technical planners to respond to that input. Also, if council votes against a proposal, it can be appealed to the OMB, which arguably is pretty pro-development. Also, it's tough for Council to defend it's decision, if City planners recommend approving a proposal:

http://elevature.blogspot.ca/2012/06...ust-doing.html
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2012...or_cities.html


I fall into the "OMB doing it's job" camp. NIMBYs in Toronto hate the OMB with a passion, but that's because it doesn't really care about NIMBY complaints, and takes expert evidence and the expert opinion of planners more seriously.

Today, HRMxD makes our approval process much more modern and in some ways, superior to Toronto's. DRC's input, which is filled with experts and urban planners, has been a great improvement over the old DA process, where backroom lobbying usually led a weak, hapless, Mayor and Councillors to oppose everything.

That said, I think having three streams for HRMxD makes sense, and is something Danny Chedrawe has been talking about (re DHX building add-on). We should have quick / routine streams that allow for even quicker approval.

http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2012/10/...opment-process
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