Tantallon Community Talks with National Chains

Community leaders have recently entered into discussions with the national chains regarding their developments at the Tantallon Village Crossroads. The contacts are to communicate the recommendations that grew out of the the March/09 Community Forum "Visioning our Village."

"We've been talking with WM Fares Group, Canadian Tire, and Atlantic Superstore or Loblaws," says Ella McQuinn, chair of the St. Margaret's Bay Stewardship Association. "We've made a series of requests on how to soften the impact of box stores on our Village and protect the natural environment. We have yet to open channels with Irving."

McQuinn is representing a coalition of community groups that include the Stewardship Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the Regional Tourism Association.

Specifically, McQuinn referred to four recommendations she was addressing to the major businesses in the Crossroads area.

"There was unanimous agreement at the Forum that we had to preserve the Village atmosphere of the Crossroads and regain some of what we've lost to uncontrolled development. Bay residents want a "townscape" with walking and bike connectivity; they also call for better parking lot landscaping; more controlled parking lot illumination to reduce the serious light pollution over the Bay; and more controlled drainage and sewage treatment as a protection for the East River and siltation problems."

The companies have been responsive, says McQuinn. "WM FaresGroup started the ball rolling by agreeing to change the design of St. Margaret's Square to be more in keeping with Bay traditions; the company also put bike and walking trails into its landscaping plans, and is considering LEED standards of lighting for its parking lot. Canadian Tire was the next to respond with more discreet signage and setting a standard for others to follow with LEED lighting. You may have noticed its tasteful parking lot landscaping and the establishment of the first sections of a bike and walking trail that we hope will be the beginning of connectivity through the entire village."

HRM support has been crucial in implementing a new Tantallon vision. In May of this year, Regional Councillors Peter Lund and Reg Rankin endorsed the Community Forum report. One of the key recommendations of the report was to establish Village Design Standards for Tantallon Village that could be used a model for other communities in St. Margaret's Bay.  The standards will establish guidelines for any new commercial building at the Crossroads.

A further initiative that grew out of the report is to establish a distinct development zone for Tantallon Village at the Crossroads. Regional councilors are currently working with HRM planners to explore this idea.

Getting the national chains to join in is central to our townscaping efforts, says McQuinn. "Most recently we've been in contact with Loblaws. The company is now considering a series of requests similar to those made to Canadian Tire and we hope to announce their compliance in the near future. We will soon open talks with Irving."

McQuinn lauded the WM Fares Group for gifting a large tract of land along the East River for community use. The land connects to the proposed Chebucto Wilderness Area. She hoped that other underutilized lands in the area could also be brought into this initiative and eventually connect wilderness tracts from the Halifax limits to St. Margaret's Bay. "This will be a great resource for Tantallon Village," she says.

She hopes to eventually draw all the businesses operating at the Crossroads into some kind of network with local business and community organizations. "I see large business and developers acknowledging that they are also members of the communities that they do business in, and that they have a social responsibility to respond to community values. It's unfortunate the community wasn't better prepared for large development before it happened but I think we now have some safeguards in place. We can ask for reasonable changes to what is there and provide some controls over what happens next. It's a win-win situation for the companies and the community."

Landmarks

May 15/09  Response from Canadian Tire Link for more details

May 15/09  Correspondence with Canadian Tire Link for more details

Nov. 28/08 Meeting with WM Fares Group Link for more details.

Oct. 17/08  Meeting with WM Fares Group (Developers) Link for more details.

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