2023-09-27

Public workshops underway concerning Blockhouse Hill design

LUNENBURG - Meetings are underway to get public feedback concerning vacant town-owned Blockhouse Hill properties, lands that are a combined nine hectares in size the civic government is looking at transforming into residential developments.

The next public workshop, scheduled for Oct. 19, discusses urban design and explores possible futures for Blockhouse Hill, including how the residential development may look.

The last session, on Nov. 9, features the professional firm hired by the town, MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, presenting possible designs for public input. Those concepts that are subject to revision based on community response before development options are presented to town council.

Civic politicians will receive a presentation from the consulting firm during an open council session Dec. 12 at which time council may decide next steps related to the undeveloped land.

In June, MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, which has a field office in Lunenburg, was awarded to $145,000 tender to create four development schemes for a Blockhouse Hill residential development. The concepts will provide four subdivision layouts outlining the proposed streets, servicing plan, lot configurations, number of dwelling units, and the height and massing of the developments.

Each of the four development schemes shall demonstrate "the mixture of new affordable and accessible units; how each scheme connects to existing streets, walkways, open space (parks and playgrounds) and trails systems in support of a pedestrian-friendly streetscape and active transportation system," reads the procurement, available online.

"The scope of work shall include a general financial cost analysis for the four development schemes," reads the request for proposals. "This cost analysis shall encompass the development, all on-site infrastructure requirements such as the extension of streets and services ... as well as any off-site infrastructure upgrades, such as ... upgrades to the town's sewer treatment plant and/or water treatment plant and the adjacent road network to facilitate the development."

The six parcels of land in question are toward the back harbour and have frontage along the Bay to Bay Trail, Blockhouse Hill Road and Sawpit Road. Combined, the lots have a market value assessment of over $760,000. Collectively, the size of the lots is about the equivalent of 11 soccer fields.

The potential change in the Blockhouse Hill landscape doesn't have absolute support from the community. A citizen advocacy group, Friends of Blockhouse Hill, filed petitions with the town calling on a stoppage of "the process to sell and develop the lands" until the town establishes a majority of residents support sale and development of same.

"We want to be on record that the Friends of Blockhouse Hill is in favour of residential development at any number of sites not encumbered by the many issues this site is both encumbered and blessed by, and we would welcome an open forum to discuss the matter further,"" reads an excerpt a written statement authored by Thom Barclay and presented to council back in May,

MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects' first public workshop concerning the design project took place Sept. 14 and, according to local media stories, more than 100 people attended. The session involved group discussion and a visioning exercise around Lunenburg and Blockhouse Hill's meaning to the community.