HomeMy Public PortalAbout2023-09-07_Open letter to Council re Village Plan Review24 August 2023
Municipality of Chester Council
Municipality of the District of Chester
151 King Street, Chester NS BOJ 1JO
Dear Municipality of Chester Council:
re. Village Planning Review
We are writing to express our concerns with the progression of the Village of Chester Planning
Document Review process and proposed Village Plan to date. We call upon Council to take
immediate action on behalf of Chester citizens by requesting further undertaking of professional
due diligence and public consultation by the Municipal Planning Department.
In particular, we ask that Council work with Municipal Planning to ensure appropriate steps
are taken to: 1. Adapt the proposed Plan to address the expressed concerns of Residents; 2.
Engage independent professionals to conduct any research or consultation required to ensure
Chester Residents are provided with an informed and transparent proposed Village Plan; and 3.
Allow for further adequate public consultation of the revised proposed Plan prior to allowing
the matter to proceed to Council for a final hearing.
Core Planning Process Concerns
Timelines + Communication
According to Municipal published timelines, the Village Plan Review commenced in December
2019.1 The majority of the Village Plan Review was conducted throughout the global pandemic,
a period in which society was focused on survival. Throughout this period traditional forms of
community interaction, engagement, and communication were severely restricted by the
requirement to stay Home. As the community then transitioned out of rigid pandemic
restrictions, the Village was faced with further significant socioeconomic burdens, (such as rapid
rising rates of inflation and severe weather events), which continued to require the immediate
attention and resources of Chester Residents.
Given the novel social conditions during this period, it was pertinent that the Municipal Village
Plan Review Communications Strategy and Timelines proactively ensured that all Residents
were made aware of the proposed Village Plan, and were given fair and reasonable opportunity
1 Municipality of the District of Chester, Voices and Choices Website,(https://www.voicesandchoices.ca/villagereview) at 'Timeline"
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to express their views, and receive assurances that their voices had been heard, before the Plan
neared finalization.
On June 22, 2023, Council approved the public consultation meeting schedule, a key component
of the public consultation process, with less than five weeks notice.z No mail outs were sent to
Village Residents advising them of the scheduled meetings, and the voluminous proposed Plan
documents were not made publicly available until July 05, 20233, (less than three full -weeks
before the first scheduled meeting). Given the Municipality has mailed out notices and surveys to
the entire Municipality without issue on several occasions, (such as the 2020 Coastal Action
Resident Water Survey, which was sent to 6,100 addresses, along with paid pre -paid return
envelopes, and further reminder postcards)4, there is no justifiable reason as to why the much
smaller Village core resident population, of approximately 800 people, were not provided with
mailing notice of the public consultation meetings.
The four public meetings were all scheduled within the same two week periods, which restricted
attendance opportunities for many residents, and allowed little time for residents to reflect on the
meetings or share future dated meeting dates with those in the community. One of the meetings
took place immediately after the Village had experienced extreme weather conditions, and the
fourth supplemental meeting was scheduled with little notice, was not contained on public
posters, and involved a last minute change of meeting location. The public . meetings were also
not clearly signed from the Roadside prior to, or during, the meetings, which limited
opportunities for Residents to walk in or drop into the meetings as they moved through the
community. The Planning Department also failed to ensure all meetings were recorded so that
there was a clear and objective record of meeting discussions. It was also not made clear how
objective records of the meeting would be reported to the Planning Advisory Committee, related
municipal departments, and relevant stakeholders.
Consultation Processes
At the meetings, the Planning Department cited that approximately 25-35 individuals were in
attendance at each session, with many of the attendees at each meeting being repeat attendees.
This indication suggests that a significant majority of the Village's 800+ residents were not
adequately informed or given opportunity to attend the meetings. Chester is known to have a
community of highly engaged residents, particularly in its Village Core, and given its history of
2 Municipality of the District of Chester, Voices and Choices Website, (https://www voicesandchoices.ca/villag_erevievv, at "Final
Public Engagement Schedule Approved" dated 22 June 2023
3 Municipality of the District of Chester, Voices and Choices Website, (https•//www voicesandchoices ca/viIIagereview) at "NEW -
Draft SPS & LUB Now Available!" dated 05 July 2023
4 Coastal Action Resident Water Survey Municipality of Chester, 2020, (https•//chesterca/sites/default/files/2022-
resident water survey report - september 2020 pddf) at page 4
5 Municipality of the District of Chester, Voices and Choices Website, (https•//www voicesandchoices ca/villagereview, at "Final
Public Engagement Schedule Approved" dated 22 June 2023
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high response rates to requests for public engagement (as clearly indicated by published response
data from various public consultation projects, including, but not limited to, the 2017 CBCL
Water Study and 2020 Coastal Action Resident Water Survey), the low public meeting
attendance records serve as clear confirmation that the Planning Department did not
appropriately schedule or communicate their public engagement sessions.
At the meetings the Public were provided with little to no confirmation on what independent
professional reviews had been undertaken to inform the Planning Department in their work, prior
preparing their proposed Village Plan. The only clearly communicated professional preliminary
study conducted was an Architecture Study conducted by FBM, for which the explicit report
results do not appear to be published to the public. The public meeting presentations also did not
clearly express how the Planning Department incorporated the findings of this Study into their
proposed Plan, and a representative of FBM was not made available to provide their independent
feedback on how the proposed Plan aligns with the outcomes of their Study.
Furthermore, the Municipality relied on mailed out Village Plan Citizen surveys as part of their
preliminary public consultation process, but no specific Resident responses were shared with the
public at these meetings. The Planning Department also did not provide explicit explanations on
what portions of the proposed Plan, if any, were reflective of the values and expressions made by
Residents in their surveys.
The Planning Department also did not have any representatives from other Municipal or
Provincial departments, such as Public Works present for the public meetings. This was
problematic given the Planning Department's representations that the Public Works department
would play critical role in responding to the resource related implications resulting from the
proposed Plan. The Planning Department also failed to invite any independent environmental
engineers (such as hydrologists) to the meetings to facilitate dialogue between the Residents and
Planning Department on relevant resource considerations relating to the proposed Village Plan.
This is of notable concern given that several resource management studies previously conducted
for the Municipality clearly indicated that the Village's current resources could not sustain
further development or increased density, while the Planning Department have cited economic
growth and development as the current prominent underpinning of their proposed Village Plan.
The Municipal Planning Department has stated in published timelines, that it is their objective to
complete the Village Plan Review by end of 20236. Throughout the duration of the public
consultations Municipal staff and a council representative made explicit expressions of their
personal desires to propel this project forward in an imminent manner, with Heather Archibald,
Senior Development Officer, candidly declaring at the August 03, 2023, meeting, "We want this
to be done!"
6 Municipality of the District of Chester, Voices and Choices Website, (https: www voicesandchoices ca/villagereview) at "Timeline"
Page 3 of 8
These expressions were made at the public meetings by Planning Department employees, all
while the Planning Department also put much blame on some of the Village's current and in -
progress development concerns, on an apparent lack of foresight by the Municipality and
Community when the last Planning review was conducted. Given that it is their view that much
of today's Village controversies are a result of yesterday's complacency, we would think that the
Planning committee would be dedicated to taking the necessary time to ensure the current
Planning review is founded in adequate research and integration of resident insights.
It is our respectful view that this project simply has not been adequately assessed to allow for a
final hearing at this time. Much of Chester has not been properly informed on the specific
changes proposed by Planning nor have they been provided with tangible data to address the
substantial environmental and community concerns that arise as a result of the Municipality's
proposed Village Plan.
Core Proposed Plan Areas of Concern
Village Values
When asked about the motivating factors behind the Village Plan Review, Mr. Garth Sturtevant
resolutely cited economic growth and development as his leading objective in preparing the
current Village Plan. At the public meetings the Residents of Chester clearly and repeatedly
expressed substantially different values for the Village Plan, including responsible resource
management and preservation of Chester's current architecture, heritage, and culture.
At the meetings it was clearly expressed by Village Residents that Chester's essence and
economy is founded in preservation of character homes and coastal charm. Residents of Chester
Village are not seeking the cheap institutionalization of the Village core, and are instead seeping
planning provisions that ensure any renovation or new build in the Village will only enhance the
existing landscape. The Village's historical and coastal properties, and use of quality in -keeping
and sustainable building materials is what has given Chester its reputation as one of Nova
Scotia's greatest architectural treasures. Chester Residents are seeking a Municipal Planning
Strategy that will ensure that the Village maintains its legacy as a community built on beauty and
history. People travel both domestically and internationally to visit Chester for its unique
vernacular, and preservation of its current form and structures is essential in ensuring that
Chester retains its appeal as both a Home to Residents and a tourist attraction to many.
Village residents also indicated at the public consultation meetings that those who have invested
their life to Chester, in maintaining their homes, and contributing to the community, are
deserving of having the enjoyment of their Properties and Property values preserved. As such, it
is essential that the Village Plan ensures that any changes to zoning or development allowances,
will not dilute the value or enjoyment of existing_ properties, and will ensure protection against
the privatization of publicly enjoyed spaces, such as access to the water from Chester Village's
various harbours.
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We note that careful consideration should be made in relation to the feedback offered by
Residents at these public meetings, given that they are the individuals with lived experience
relating to the resource concerns in the Village. They are also the ones with an innate knowing of
the invaluable role that Chester's existing landscapes, such as our picturesque waterfront
peninsula, plays in attracting interest to Chester Village. It is our respectful request that Council
use their authority to ensure that the Planning Department adapt their proposed Village Plan to
reflect and incorporate the clearly expressed values of Chester Residents, which includes
preserving Chester's existing resources, heritage, and culture.
Water
The public consultation meetings confirmed that the Village of Chester values environment and
sustainable resource management. Water quality and quantity remain a substantial concern of the
Residents of Chester, and as such, any Village Planning strategy must take a proactive approach
in evaluating potential for erosion of water supply within the Community. The Residents
expressed concerns surrounding water and septic resource management are not unfounded, ig yen
that quantitative studies back to 1967 have indicated that the Village does not have adequate
long-term water supply to meet the demand of residents and businesses.7 Despite this Mr.
Sturtevant's proposed Plan focuses on increased density within the Community and ignores the
undeniably consistent conclusions offered by various water resource studies conducted for the
Municipality: Chester does not have adequate water supply to support the existing needs of the
Village, let alone new demand as a result of increased density or development. Any plan which
allows for the potential of significant development and increased density in the Village core is
not only short-sighted but undeniably reckless.
At the public community presentations Mr. Sturtevant, the lead senior planner responsible for the
Village Review, admitted that he had not conducted or incorporated any quantitative studies on
the impacts of the proposed increased density in preparing his Plan, nor had his Planning
Department engaged any third -party professionals, such as environmental engineers
(hydrologists), to provide the Village with an independent assessment on the viability of their
proposed Plan. This lack of quantitative analysis is particularly concerning as the August 2017
water needs and options preliminary assessment prepared for the Village by CBCL Limited,
Consulting Engineers, indicates that approximately one quarter of the sample participants
experienced water supply issues.$
7 Coastal Action Resident Water Survey Municipality of Chester, 2020, (https://chester.ca/sites-Mefault/files/2022-09/
resident water survey report - september 2020.pdf) at page 1
B CBCL Preliminary Groundwater Supply Assessment, Village of Chester Central Water System: Needs and Options Analysis Final
Report, 2017, httsp .//ehq-production-canada.s3.ca-central-l.amazonaws.com/documents/attachments/
e16a81 f46bbba2bc879f4b18614e49958a071 cab/000/011 /239/original/
2017-08-24 Preliminary Groundwater Supply Needs and Options Assessment CBCL.pdf ) at page iv
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In the executive summary to the report CBCL concluded:
"The survey results and collected water quality data indicate that water quantity and
quality problems are common throughout the Village of Chester... Many well owners
are required to observe conservation measures, and several properties are without a
consistent supply. Shortages show that water resources are stressed in localized parts
of the communitu and that the potential for further development or increased density
tivithin existing dwellings is limited."9 [emphasis added]
The report repeatedly concluded that the Village core could not sustain increased density or
development, and also confirmed that in a 2016 drought several residents experienced water
shortages to such an extent that they were without tap water for periods of one week to four
months.10 The report further stated:
"Existing climate models suggest that the rate and frequency of extreme weather
events is increasing in Nova Scotia, which would indicate that drought events such as
those experienced in 2016 are likely to be repeated. Climate and well data compiled
by NSDNR appears to support this likelihood. Periodic, intensive reductions in
recharge to shallow aquifers in Chester are likely to continue to causes shortages,
potentially with increased frequency and/or duration in efuture years".11 [emphasis
added]
While Mr. Sturtevant repeatedly indicated resource management was not within the scope of his
role as a Senior Municipal Planner, the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) defines the planning
profession as:
".. [the] scientific, aesthetic, and orderly disposition of land, resources, facilities,
and services with a view to securing physical, economic, and social efficiency, and
the health and well-being of urban and rural communities".12
9 CBCL Preliminary Groundwater Supply Assessment, Village of Chester Central Water System: Needs and Options Analysis Final
Report, 2017, https://ehq.production-canada.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/documents/attachments/
e16a81 f46bbba2bc879f4b18614e49958a071 cab/000/011 /239/original/
2017-08-24 Preliminary Groundwater Supply Needs and Options Assessment CBCL.pdf )at page v
10 CBCL Preliminary Groundwater Supply Assessment, Village of Chester Central Water System: Needs and Options Analysis Final
Report, 2017, htts:/p /ehq-production-canada.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/documents/attachments/
e16a81f46bbba2bc879f4b18614e49958a071cab/000/011/239/odabal/
2017-08-24 Preliminary Groundwater Supply Needs and Options Assessment CBCL.pdf ) at page iv
11 CBCL Preliminary Groundwater Supply Assessment, Village of Chester Central Water System: Needs and Options Analysis Final
Report, 2017, (hbttps://ehq-production-canada.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/documents/attachments/
el 6a81f46bbba2bc879f4b18614e49958a071cab/000/011/239/original/
2017-08-24 Preliminary Groundwater Supply Needs and Options Assessment CBCL.pdf) at page 20
12 Dalhousie University Architecture and Planning, https•//www dal ca/facultyLarchitecture- nning/school-of- lap nning html at
"What is Planning?"
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It is a Planner's very role to create to develop a responsible and sustainable plan, and a Village
Plan that has not considered resource issues, (in a Village known for its considerable water
shortages), is not a plan that looks to secure the physical, economic, and social efficiency, and
the health and well-being of the community. We ask Council to affirm Planning's role in ensuring
that the Village Plan presented is one founded in professional integrity through adequate
consideration of resource management.
Quantitative Data + Independent Review
Resident concerns relating to the general lack of quantitative studies or independent review of
the proposed Village Plan is not limited to resource management, but also extends to the broader
nature of the Plan and its proposed implementation. Given that poor planning could substantially
erode the integrity of the entire village and its resources, it is essential that the Plan be carefully
considered by a diverse set of professionals. This ensures control over the development of the
Plan is not unduly centralized, and allows for the the final Plan to reflect a diverse mosaic of
resident and professional voices.
A particular area of concern was the lack of any assessment on the ability of our current
emergency services infrastructure to support the potential density proposed by the Planning
Department. Given that the Province just experienced grave wildfires, and Chester has been
known to lose several noteworthy structures to fire throughout the years, it would only be
responsible to have the proposed Village Plan changes presented to emergency service personnel
so that they can provide their professional opinion on the potential risks associated with the
proposed Plan.
The proposed Plan must also be assessed in light of the Municipality's obligations to its
Residents under the Municipal Government Act, which cites in its pre -amble that "municipalities
are a responsible order of government accountable to the People.13" Reviewing the proposed
Plan in light of this 300+ page Act, as well as other relevant provincial and federal legislation,
(including, but not limited to, any environmental, well & septic regulations, and National &
Provincial Building Codes,) is essential. Such an undertaking requires specific expertise, and
should be done responsibly and thoroughly to ensure the Council is not presented with a Plan for
approval that is in conflict with the Municipality's broader obligations to adhere to and enforce
laws for the benefit of the people.
Throughout the public meeting process Mr. Sturtevant indicated some of the lack of research to
date is due to the Municipal Planning having a small team, that is already overburdened with
their current workload. If the Municipality is already organizationally burdened by the current
demand from Chester Residents, it is pertinent that the introduction of any proposed planning
13 Municipal Government Act of Nova Scotia, (httsp 7Hnslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/leoc/statutes/
municipal %20government.pddfl at page 12
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provisions are professionally reviewed and introduced in a manner that ensures that the Village
and its government will not be unduly burdened with under-resourced population growth and
development.
It is our view that the Municipality, Village Businesses, and Residents all benefit from further
foresight and consultation. We believe a pro -active, unified approach among Council, Village
Residents, the Planning Advisory Committee, the Planning Department, and other stakeholders,
is the best path forward in ensuring that Chester's legacy is maintained. It is a privilege to live
and work in Chester, and we will all benefit from a sustainable and safe Village.
Conclusion
A responsible council is a good council, and with that, we ask you to join in our efforts to ensure
Chester's legacy is founded in community and environmental integrity.
We respectfully request Council commits to community confidence by directing the Planning
Department to engage in responsible research, revision, and further public engagement, before
presenting their final proposed Village Plan.
In Social Consciousness & Community,
The Chester Coalition of Common Sense Citizens
cc. Municipality of District of Chester Planning Department
Municipality of District of Chester Planning Advisory Committee
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