Residents of Blockhouse recently received a letter notifying them of an approved site plan for a new development on Cornwall Road.
The notice, dated August 10, 2024, was sent to property owners within 30 meters of the planned development, located just north of Exit 11 on Highway 103, PID #60218559.
According to the letter, “Kent Fields Estates Ltd. has applied for a phased development of multiple 8-unit apartment buildings. Phase 1 includes 10 buildings which could result in 80 new residential units.”
According to their website, Kent Fields Estates Ltd., based in Kentville, N.S, operates rental properties from Yarmouth to Windsor.
Local property and business owner Camelia Frieberg expressed concerns about the development in an email to The Barnacle.
“The Blockhouse community, including BARK (Blockhouse Area Renewal and Kinship), individual residents, and local small businesses, have for years petitioned their local officials to consider the hazardous road conditions that we feel will inevitably lead to serious accidents. We have discussed and documented the need for better road signage, traffic calming solutions, sidewalks, speed limit enforcement, the possibility of roundabouts or traffic lights, better signage for the trail system which crosses major roadways, etc. To date, none of our requests have been addressed nor have we seen any improvements in a situation that we all feel is increasingly dangerous.”
Frieberg also questioned the notification process, suggesting that all community members, not just those within 30 meters, should be informed. She believes a development of this scale will impact the broader community.
In a written comment, Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, District 8 Councillor Kacy DeLong states,
I share the concerns of the residents regarding provincial infrastructure deficits in the area. That said, I am also hearing from locals that there is excitement about the possibility for new housing in the area. The developer has said to me that his hope is to build high-quality housing suitable for seniors and young professionals…He said he grew up in Blockhouse and wants to use this land he inherited from his father to create opportunities for the area.
The site plan meets all criteria outlined in Section 5.2.3(d)(ii) of the Blockhouse Land Use Bylaw and therefore can be granted approval by the Municipal Development Officer. The notice states that a development permit will be issued on August 28, 2024, barring any appeals.
DeLong sees this as a chance to bring about a wider discussion.
“My hope is that the addition of 80 family units to the community will provide an opportunity for dialogue with our MLA and representatives from the province on how to address ongoing infrastructure issues such as traffic, the lack of crosswalk or signage at the trail crossing, lack of sidewalks, and speed limits in the Blockhouse area.”
A public meeting on the development is forthcoming, a date has not been scheduled.
Kent Fields Estates building units in other municipalities in Nova Scotia
In November 2023, Kent Fields Estates submitted a development agreement application for a similar project of 8-unit apartment buildings in Berwick. This proposal, located at 228 Main Street, includes 72 dwelling units.
Many concerns were expressed by Berwick residents at a public hearing on November 6, 2023. A town report writes, “Issues identified by the public at the public hearing included:
- The ability of infrastructure to handle a larger population. Infrastructure includes sewer, water, roads, sidewalks and other municipal services
- Impacts of the proposed development on overland flooding in the general area and displacement of water.
- Storm water [sic] management concerns. This included how the stormwater infrastructure will be maintained.”
A town staff report presented at the December 12, 2023, Town Council meeting addressed these concerns, leading the Council to approve the development agreement with Kent Fields Estates.
Since the approval, Berwick resident Kelly Branton has filed an appeal with the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.
apartments are “senior and young professional”, therefore expensive.
The area needs affordable housing.
Definitely agree that we need affordable housing.