Shunpiking Online Vo.3 No.2 The view from the ‘lighthouse’ By KATHY GREIG

MY NAME is Kathy Greig. I live at 7960 St. Margaretís Bay Road in Ingramport, beside the proposed development. The topic that I would like to address are the responses received on a survey to the local residents regarding the Ingramport Development.

I would like to start with a quote from Mayor Peter Kelly in the State of the Region Address dated Monday June 20, 2005 just 5 months ago, Mayor Kelly states: “I want to also let you know that we value the advice that we receive from the business community and from the citizens of HRM; it is invaluable to Council and I when we set priorities and goals for the Municipality.“

So I would like to offer Council some advice from the local citizens:

Community volunteers did a house-to-house survey of the residents within the HRM designated notification area regarding the proposed Ingramport Development. It was completed in the past couple of weeks. Please note that the surveyed residents are all part of the HRM notification area for the proposed development. I personally entered the data on an Excel spreadsheet from written, signed questionnaires.

There were five questions appearing on the survey: 130 respondents in total

Do you support the Department of Natural Resources leasing crown land for private profit as proposed?

Answer: 96.9 per cent said NO to the Department of Natural Resources leasing crown land.

Do you support the concept of a breakwater in the Ingram River Estuary?

Answer: 100 per cent said NO to the breakwater

Are you comfortable with setting such a precedent for high-density development on St. Margaretís Bay?

Answer: 95.4 per cent said NO to high density.

Are you concerned about the effects (traffic, light pollution, etc) such an increase in populations density would have on the area?

Answer: 92.3 per cent said YES to concerns about traffic, light pollution, etc.

Are you concerned the development may affect water quantity in the Ingramport area?

Answer: 82.3 per cent said YES to concerns about water quantity.

I have copies of that spreadsheet if you wish. There are too many comments to mention in five minutes.

The citizens have said NO in the past at public meetings in 2004 and 2005 and are now saying NO again to the development as proposed

Though this survey is in no way covering all aspects of the proposed development, it is certainly a strong indication of what the people in the area donít want. The bottom line is that ALL of the people surveyed, living in the immediate vicinity, have serious concerns about the development as proposed.

The concerned citizens of the area are not against development, but are looking for a development that is compatible with the existing character and density of our coastal village.

The citizens have said NO in the past at public meetings in 2004 and 2005 and are now saying NO again to the development as proposed.

In all of Ingramport we have 89 homes, eight cottages and one visible business, the Enviro-Depot. The Developer is proposing a housing increase of over 20 per cent. This would be massive in any community, let alone a small pristine coastal village such as Ingramport. All of this on 4.7 acres of land!

I would like to close with another quote from Mayor Kelly’s State of the Region Address. Major Kelly states, “I and my colleagues on Council would agree that the residents of HRM are our lighthouse and we are here to listen to you and to act responsibly.” The respondents of the survey, including myself, from Ingramport and Boutilliers Point within the notification area are asking you, our Council members. to be guided by your lighthouse.

Thank you.