Peninsula south residents wary of new HRM proposals for bike lanes and trees
On July 7, Halifax Regional Municipality released its new proposals for bike lanes in peninsula south. This would affect Morris Street, University Ave, South Street, Robie Street and Seymour/Carteret Streets. On these streets, between 88 and 125 trees could be removed. Could the trees on the north side of Morris Street you see here be among those slated for removal?.
HRM’s “public consultation” has begun in preparation for presentation and approval of a final plan to HRM Council. The proposals and the consultation were supposed to start last March/April. It is now July.
The proposals confirm that trees are most definitely in danger: between 88 and 125 trees, depending on which of eight “concepts” are eventually chosen, (see our calculations HERE.) The majority of these are mature trees, taking between 25 and 40 years or more to reach maturity. There has to be a better way. The arboricide will have a serious and negative impact on neighbourhoods. Cutting down mature trees for bike lanes makes no sense and will destroy the character Halifax is so well known for, nationally and internationally.
Amid global warming, trees, particularly mature trees, are an invaluable asset to the environment and the public, not least to prevent heat islands. Several cities have even initiated placing an economic worth on their trees. As Dalhousie tree expert Dr. Peter Duinker has said “Felling old trees to make way for new bike lanes in Halifax [is] an absurd idea.”
There is only one proposal offered for Morris Street which would one-way the street, remove bus routes, reduce sparse parking and eliminate six trees. The removal of these trees could make a mockery of the word ‘Heritage’ in the Heritage Conservation District the city itself declared in 2017. HRM has totally ignored the several alternative proposals made by Friends of Schmidtville.
HRM’s own Schmidtville Heritage Conservation District Plan, adopted by Council in 2018 says:
“In 2012, the Municipality adopted the Urban Forest Master Plan to ensure a sustainable future for its urban forest recognizing that trees provide multiple benefits to people in an urban environment including many natural services to the economy such as slowing down storm water flow, habitat for birds, and cleaning air. The people of Halifax value trees for their social benefits associated with quality of life and for their character and charm.
“Policy 36 Conservation of Street Trees It is the intent of the Municipality to protect and maintain existing trees along the public rights of way and to ensure that new tree plantings are consistent with the Urban Forest Master Plan.”
The HRM proposals would also remove trees on University Ave., Robie St. and South St, with consequences similar to those on Morris St. The proposal for a portion of South Street would remove 52 of 88 trees.
A large percentage of the cost of installing bike lanes comes from federal funds. We suspect that these monies must be spent with work completed by the end of 2024. We fear that this has prompted a rush to tick the “consultation” box, a rush to get HRM Council approval and a rush to build.
Based on past experience, we are highly skeptical of HRM’s “consultation” process, which tends to pro-forma and carefully curated to avoid strong voices speaking to larger groups. This process tends to bypass legitimate citizen concerns to achieve the solution City staff preferred in the first place.
For example, in the online survey, respondents are forced to choose among “concepts” though they may prefer none, making it appear that there is more support than actual.
The entire process of consultation funnels us into tree removal - either greater or lesser tree removal - but tree removal all the same. There is no alternative in the whole process to tree removal.
Despite (or due to) our reservations, we are urging all concerned citizens to participate in the “consultation” I.e. fill in the survey and register for the small group (and any other) discussions.
FRIENDS OF SCHMIDTVILLE
friendsofschmidtvllle@gmail.com; www.friendsofschmidtville.org; 902-240-2782
