Brad MacInnis has been following through on the information he shared with us regarding the patching to the Etter Road and the East Uniacke Road beyond Lakecrest Dr.  Complete paving would have been better but….  As well, the #1 Highway has been patched where required and other roads throughout our community have seen much-needed attention.  The gravel roads have seen graders and dust-arresting product application.  DOT has also been along the Highway #1 and the East Uniacke Road marking the areas where the soft shoulders are to be built up.  Enquiries will be made as to the completion of this important work since there are many “deep drops” on most of the soft shoulders that make it not only dangerous to drive along but also to walk along.  There’s still much work to be done but it cannot all be done overnight.  Mr. MacInnis has advised that new signs are on order from their Truro sign shop and as soon as they arrive they will be put in place. 

One of our more diligent residents has advised me that they have been in touch with DOT regarding the illegal hanging of business signs on DOT signs along the sides of the highways and near the 101 entrance.  I have been informed that this is illegal and the owners of the signs can be/will be fined if it continues.  DOT are the persons responsible for removing these signs.  A few of the signs were quickly replaced by these business owners but DOT returned and removed them once again.  As well, the Municipality has strict by-laws in place regarding displaying of advertisement signs in East Hants.  Residents and businesses from our community as well as those from outside our community are advised that we will not tolerate this abuse of our power poles, trees and existing signage that has been allowed and they will be removed through the proper authorities.

I have been in touch with Canada Post regarding the replacement of the worn out green mail boxes throughout our community.  The Canada Post supervisor for our area has advised that he will be replacing several of the more ancient ones right away with the intentions of eventually replacing them all.  This is a very costly venture and will take time.  But, as the old boxes are replaced with the newer ones, we will possibly see them diminish in number as Canada Post combines some locations better suited to the area residents. 

There is a lot of construction taking place within our community.  Some of the construction is well known to everyone while other areas completely surprised residents, myself included.  One of those areas is at the end of Lakecrest Dr.  There is a 19 lot subdivision underway with some of the lots on the water’s edge.  I have been in correspondence with concerned residents in the area as well as I have seen photos of the area and took a drive through the proposed area.  By asking questions I have received the following information:    - the Dept of Environment has been involved with this project from the beginning at the request of the Municipality. 

- the landowner was granted subdivision capabilities over 2 years ago.  My understanding is that with the residential zoning of the area being designated many years ago there was no need for public meetings or notices. 

The contractor is, to the best of my knowledge, very trustworthy and does work within the regulations put in place to protect the environment.  The Dept of Environment was called in by local residents and the report indicates that the Dept of Environment is pleased with the precautions that have been put in place while construction is underway.  There has been a large patch of land clear-cut to make way for a parking lot, which is part of the by-law agreement in place between any developers in East Hants and the Municipality regarding granting of green space to the Municipality.  My understanding is that this parking lot will afford safe public access to this lake for canoeists and kayakers from a dock that the developer has agreed to have put in place.  

The objective of public lake access is to afford safe access to lakes in our community for those residents who do not live on a lake but like to enjoy the paddling experience or to cool off in the hot summer months.

It has also been brought to my attention that there is a subdivision (I do not know the size) under way across the road from the school.  I know nothing more than the road goes up the side of the hill.

I will be looking into what other projects are out there that we don’t know about and that the zoning requirements do not require public notices be posted on so we are not “surprised” too many times.   

NOTE: the following information was downloaded from Nova Scotia Planning Developments’ web site: 

Quote:  Public Access to Nova Scotia’s Watercourses:    Many residents of Nova Scotia have periodically expressed the concern that as the land around lakes and other water bodies of the province become developed, there will not be an access provided for the general public to get to and enjoy these publicly owned resources.  Non-residents are often targeted as the developers of this land and some believe that if legislation were in effect to enable increased property taxes for non-residents, the development of land by non-residents would be curtailed.

Other approaches may prove to be more successful.  The province has a role to play in acquiring public accesses before lakes become fully developed, making acquisition much more difficult.  Municipalities may also have opportunities in their municipal subdivision by-laws.  Most subdivision by-laws require the transfer of useable land from subdividers for public recreation purposes.  “Useable Land” is often defined in order for the municipality to acquire land that meets their recreational needs.  With policy support in municipal planning strategies, a definition of useable land that requires it have water access would be reasonable for subdivisions proposed around watercourses.

This approach has the advantage of establishing the water access before the lots are sold.  Purchasers should be aware as they buy their lot where the “public land” will be located but with proper buffering many of the negative aspects could be alleviated. End of Quote.

Rosanne Bland, Councilor

Mount Uniacke District 12