r/Truro

I notice when taking taxi from mall and check google street view. Come up Juniper on the west side (since most of the east side doesn't have sidewalk). Then take a long roundabout route to get to other side

Yet there's a stop sign at the triangle, so not sure why crosswalk not there too

As always, I encourage you to watch the entire meeting. This was a long meeting with a great deal of content shared.

448-450 Lower Truro Road (3m 47s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=V\_pdQI8HAEc&t=3m47s
Director Fox gave his presentation on a Development Agreement application at 448-450 Lower Truro Road, which is at Step 3 of 5 in the expanded process. At 39m 00s https://youtu.be/watch?v=V\_pdQI8HAEc&t=39m00s we heard from Jared Bent, Traffic Authority for the Town of Truro, regarding a proposed roundabout at the intersection(s) of McClure’s Mills Road, Lower Truro Road, and James Street.

At 53m 08s https://youtu.be/watch?v=V\_pdQI8HAEc&t=53m08s I asked:
* How tall the building would have to be to impact the flight path for LifeFlight at the hospital (roughly 40 story);
* What building materials are being used (reinforced concrete for buildings, wood-frame for the townhouses);
* Can updated renderings be provided for the Public Hearing that show a more accurate depiction than the “AI slop” that has been shown this evening? (Yes, consider it done.)
* Are there plans to use the rooftop for solar installation, rooftop gardening, stormwater management plan? (Anticipating interior and exterior amenity space for residents on the rooftop, additional detail to be provided at the Public Hearing.) I highlighted that the proposed Public Hearing would be July 6 and suggested they be as prepared as possible for that meeting with these and other details.
* Has the developer considered reversing the setback to be from Salter Avenue instead of from Lower Truro Road? This tradeoff might impact Lower Truro Road properties, but I hope it may be minimal compared to Salter Avenue. (Hasn’t been looked at yet, acknowledges it may create new problems but can take a look.)
* Does Staff have a list of Land-Use Bylaws (LUB) and by how much they exceed the As Of Right requirements? (This is touched on throughout the report but no, it is not gathered in one place. Also unclear how to list As Of Right requirements with multiple zoning types involved.)
* Affordable Housing: what steps has the developer taken to address Affordable Housing through CMHC or other programs? (Still early in the process, as Planners and Developers they don’t tend to be involved in those talks at this time but would have more info for Public Hearing.)
* Any units available for purchase at this development? (Not that they know of.) I repeated what I have often said: I think ownership opportunities are dwindling and I would love to see more of them in town. (Developer noted that townhouse units could be available, but not the apartment units.)

At 1h 20m 28s https://youtu.be/watch?v=V\_pdQI8HAEc&t=1h20m28s the gallery was given their opportunity to speak. Concerns were mostly around traffic, size and height of the development, construction noise, whether any core sampling was done which could inform the need for blasting, as well as suggestions to build it somewhere else with acknowledgements that the developer doesn’t necessarily own land elsewhere. Though addressed in the presentation, there was also a concern raised about possible impact to the hospital helipad flight paths. A concern that they’d “be stuck when construction begins,” but Director Fox highlighted that the Construction Management Plan specifically addresses this (https://truro.ca/documents/policies/1766-construction-site-management-policy/file.html). A comment that roundabouts in Europe are being removed in high traffic areas, and a quick Google search tells me that this is for protection of cyclists and pedestrians for whom it is dangerous to navigate multi-lane roundabouts alongside motor vehicle traffic. An oft-asked question about water and sewer capacity to which Jared Bent, Traffic Authority and Operations Engineer, replied that there is no cause for alarm with plenty of capacity in both systems.M

A comment that the development “violates your own policies,” but this is exactly why the Planning Advisory Committee and Development Agreement (DA) process exist. If the development met all the policies of As Of Right or Site Plan Approval, then it would not appear before either PAC or Town Council.

A comment about tenants not receiving notices of development because it went to the property owner who did not pass the information on. Director Fox noted that we follow the rules as dictated by the MGA, and I chimed in at 1h 41m 28s https://youtu.be/watch?v=V\_pdQI8HAEc&t=1h41m28s to note that the MGA is provincial legislation and that they should contact Minister Ritcey’s office for changes. I also agreed that renters should also receive such notices and that I would follow up with Director Fox and Minister Ritcey; more on this to come. I also noted for traffic concerns that the Town and County are investigating a Public Transit plan and that reducing congestion can only be done through reducing the number of cars on the road, and Public Transit is an excellent means to accomplish that.

At 1h 53m 13s https://youtu.be/watch?v=V\_pdQI8HAEc&t=1h53m13s I suggested a deferment until updated renderings and other requested info be presented to the committee, but the motion was seconded before I could speak and we moved ahead. I voted in favour of the motion as the developer has made good on past promises to deliver requested changes and updates. The motion was defeated 3-3 with Deputy Mayor Thomas, Councillor Graham, and Ms. Johnson voting against; and Chair Gourley-Davis, Ms. DesLaurier, and myself in favour. The developer can take the project forward to Council but it will not be with the recommendation of PAC.

656 Young Street (2h 03m 09s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=V\_pdQI8HAEc&t=2h03m09s
Planner MacPherson presented a preliminary report to update PAC on the project without progressing from Step 2 to Step 3, with a recommendation to the committee to request the developer to schedule a public information session due to an increase in community interest, including feedback from the Truro Black Cultural Development Association (TBCDA). The updates include: substituting underground parking for at-grade parking, increasing the height of each multi-unit building to accommodate the at-grade parking; removal of a proposed road along the length of the development which was replaced by a short driveway into the property; and increasing the setback of one of the buildings from the neighbouring property owned by the Paris family from 4.27 m to 13.65 m.

At 2h 18m 28s https://youtu.be/watch?v=V\_pdQI8HAEc&t=2h18m28s I briefly discussed the traffic flow up Young Street and concurred that on-street parking in that area is not recommended, as referenced previous discussions that sidewalks would not be built prior to development as the construction traffic would likely do significant damage; such infrastructure would be built as developments were completed. I then made the motion to require the developer to hold a public information session prior to moving to Step 3 of the process. The motion passed unanimously. There was further discussion from Chair Gourley-Davis, as well as from Nevin Jackson of TBDCA at 2h 25m 53s https://youtu.be/watch?v=V\_pdQI8HAEc&t=2h25m53s.

The next meeting of the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) is scheduled for June 29 at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, but that is also graduation day for CEC students which presents a conflict for several committee and community members so I expect this to be rescheduled.

Meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m.