{"id":4201,"date":"2018-02-19T11:03:29","date_gmt":"2018-02-19T15:03:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/halifaxfieldnaturalists.ca\/hfnWP\/?p=4201"},"modified":"2018-02-19T16:38:47","modified_gmt":"2018-02-19T20:38:47","slug":"expansion-of-hrm-goodwood-composting-facility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/halifaxfieldnaturalists.ca\/hfnWP\/?p=4201","title":{"rendered":"Expansion of HRM Goodwood Composting Facility"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote>\n<div>After the hike to the Drysdale Bog in Goodwood, we learned via the Western Commons Advisory Committee that the area, situated near the Halifax Western Common, is partially considered for expanded development.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Please consider their statement (as follows):<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>We are concerned that even though the Western Commons Advisory Committee\u00a0<b>unanimously opposed<\/b>\u00a0an HRM proposal to replace and enlarge a new organic waste composting facility in Goodwood, NS, HRM staff is nevertheless taking preliminary steps to re-zone the site to prepare for this new facility.\u00a0 The Halifax and West Community Council will consider the re-zoning proposal at its next meeting\u00a0<u><span class=\"aBn\" tabindex=\"0\" data-term=\"goog_1028572363\"><span class=\"aQJ\">on Tuesday<\/span><\/span>,<span class=\"m_2080276241581127314m_-3847020641625439824u-text-bold\">\u00a0<\/span><time datetime=\"2018-02-20T12:00:00Z\"><span class=\"aBn\" tabindex=\"0\" data-term=\"goog_1028572364\"><span class=\"aQJ\">February 20, 2018<\/span><\/span>, at\u00a0<\/time><span class=\"aBn\" tabindex=\"0\" data-term=\"goog_1028572365\"><span class=\"aQJ\">6:00 p.m.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0in\u00a0Council Chamber, 3rd Floor, City Hall,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/?q=1841+Argyle+Street,+Halifax&amp;entry=gmail&amp;source=g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en&amp;q=https:\/\/maps.google.com\/?q%3D1841%2BArgyle%2BStreet,%2BHalifax%26entry%3Dgmail%26source%3Dg&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1519138626451000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGVIA2o0s7PqUo9k8aUJF4rqhD_fA\">1841 Argyle Street, Halifax<\/a>.<\/u><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b><span style=\"color: #454545;\">Your members may share our concerns and may want to attend this meeting or write to their councillor to let them know their view. If they wish to write\u2014even a single sentence\u2014we are providing the names of the councillors who comprise the Halifax and West Community Council at the end of this message.\u00a0 Even if\u00a0your members don&#8217;t want to express a view, we ask you to forward this message to your members for information.<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The\u00a0Western Commons Advisory Committee\u00a0has\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">five substantive reasons for\u00a0opposing<\/span>\u00a0the expansion of the composting facility:<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><b>1. \u00a0Encroachment<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>The Western Common was set aside as designated Park land in part so that it would not be used as a \u201cland bank\u201d from which to borrow land anytime a need might arise.\u00a0\u00a0Encroaching on designated Park land would contravene this principle and would set a precedent for future encroachment on Western Common lands. \u00a0(Note: \u00a0Contrary to the original intent of designating the Western Common as a wilderness park, the proposed new facility would expand the current facility and encroach on designated park land.)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><b>2. \u00a0Location<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>The area has a history of contamination difficulties and offensive smells. Such problems are not good for a sensitive environment, the local community, or a wilderness recreational park.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><b>3. \u00a0Financial Incentive<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>The proposal to replace and expand the present facility does not acknowledge the contamination or smell issues that the present site has experienced, does not indicate what remediation (if any) would be carried out, and does not provide any safeguards that would prevent these issues from recurring on an even larger scale.\u00a0\u00a0No amount of financial incentive would provide adequate compensation in exchange for the possible perpetuation of these issues. \u00a0(Note: \u00a0The proposal offers the community a $1 million \u201cincentive\u201d for loss of park land and any other \u201cinconveniences&#8221; that the new composting facility would bring with it.)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><b>4. \u00a0Environmental Assessment<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>Nova Scotia Environment has not conducted an environmental assessment of the proposed site of the new facility.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><b>5. \u00a0Zoning<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>Designating a sensitive wetland area I-3 (General Industrial) would be inappropriate and would set a precent for future heavy industrial use in the area.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The meeting Agenda and he HRM Staff proposal for re-zoning can be viewed at<\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifax.ca\/city-hall\/community-councils\/february-20-2018-halifax-west-community-council\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en&amp;q=https:\/\/www.halifax.ca\/city-hall\/community-councils\/february-20-2018-halifax-west-community-council&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1519138626451000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEYHMvqNAPEwxcK2tbV4fbBDy9IvA\">https:\/\/www.halifax.ca\/city-<wbr \/>hall\/community-councils\/februa<wbr \/>ry-20-2018-halifax-west-commun<wbr \/>ity-council<\/a>.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Members of the Halifax and West Community Council are as follows:<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifax.ca\/city-hall\/districts-councillors\/district-7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en&amp;q=https:\/\/www.halifax.ca\/city-hall\/districts-councillors\/district-7&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1519138626451000&amp;usg=AFQjCNE7vB23HngEnC7zCM2WgvkdiH6wmQ\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Deputy Mayor\u00a0Waye Mason &#8211;\u00a0<\/span><\/a>District 7<span style=\"color: #767676;\">\u00a0(<\/span><a href=\"mailto:waye.mason@halifax.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">waye.mason@halifax.ca<\/a><span style=\"color: #767676;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifax.ca\/city-hall\/districts-councillors\/district-8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en&amp;q=https:\/\/www.halifax.ca\/city-hall\/districts-councillors\/district-8&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1519138626451000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFtxu-xvL5A0ywNblinET9YMqn32A\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Councillor Lindell Smith, Vice Chair\u00a0&#8211; District 8<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #767676;\">\u00a0(<\/span><a href=\"mailto:lindell.smith@halifax.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">l<\/a><a href=\"mailto:lindell.smith@halifax.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">indell.smith@halifax.ca<\/a><span style=\"color: #767676;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifax.ca\/city-hall\/districts-councillors\/district-9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en&amp;q=https:\/\/www.halifax.ca\/city-hall\/districts-councillors\/district-9&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1519138626451000&amp;usg=AFQjCNH3GgkJkGoLOo3LAu7L6ecChww8hA\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Councillor Shawn Cleary &#8211; District 9<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #767676;\">\u00a0(<\/span><a href=\"mailto:shawn.cleary@halifax.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shawn.cleary@halifax.ca<\/a><span style=\"color: #767676;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifax.ca\/city-hall\/districts-councillors\/district-10\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en&amp;q=https:\/\/www.halifax.ca\/city-hall\/districts-councillors\/district-10&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1519138626451000&amp;usg=AFQjCNF-CtE_FlFSonI1_ZpT24Wl7NjtYA\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Councillor Russell Walker &#8211; District 10<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #767676;\">\u00a0(<\/span><a href=\"mailto:russell.walker@halifax.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">russell.walker@halifax.ca<\/a><span style=\"color: #767676;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifax.ca\/city-hall\/districts-councillors\/district-11\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en&amp;q=https:\/\/www.halifax.ca\/city-hall\/districts-councillors\/district-11&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1519138626451000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFK5riV77CHDdYHwuCYydXZhFvyPQ\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Councillor Stephen D. Adams, Chair- District 11<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #767676;\">\u00a0(<\/span><a href=\"mailto:stephen.adams@halifax.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stephen.adams@halifax.ca<\/a><span style=\"color: #767676;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifax.ca\/city-hall\/districts-councillors\/district-12\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en&amp;q=https:\/\/www.halifax.ca\/city-hall\/districts-councillors\/district-12&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1519138626451000&amp;usg=AFQjCNE4oFw3Hfl_OjkdZTrihTlEkRAAsg\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Councillor Richard Zurawski &#8211; District 12<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #767676;\">\u00a0(<\/span><a href=\"mailto:richard.zurawski@halifax.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">richard.zurawski@halifax.c<wbr \/>a<\/a><span style=\"color: #767676;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>Tom Musial, Lewis Lake, NS<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Beth Mcgee,\u00a0Seabright, NS<\/div>\n<div class=\"yj6qo\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After the hike to the Drysdale Bog in Goodwood, we learned via the Western Commons Advisory Committee that the area, situated near the Halifax Western Common, is partially considered for expanded development. Please consider their statement (as follows):<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/halifaxfieldnaturalists.ca\/hfnWP\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4201"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/halifaxfieldnaturalists.ca\/hfnWP\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/halifaxfieldnaturalists.ca\/hfnWP\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/halifaxfieldnaturalists.ca\/hfnWP\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/halifaxfieldnaturalists.ca\/hfnWP\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4201"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/halifaxfieldnaturalists.ca\/hfnWP\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4201\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4205,"href":"https:\/\/halifaxfieldnaturalists.ca\/hfnWP\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4201\/revisions\/4205"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/halifaxfieldnaturalists.ca\/hfnWP\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4201"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/halifaxfieldnaturalists.ca\/hfnWP\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4201"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/halifaxfieldnaturalists.ca\/hfnWP\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}