Bylaw change would allow seniors home

FALL RIVER
Yvette d'Entremont - The Weekly News
More than 130 people attended a Nov. 24 public information meeting to discuss a possible municipal planning change that would enable the construction of "alternate" forms of housing in Fall River.
Waverley Fall-River Beaver Bank Coun. Barry Dalrymple said the large turnout and the fact participants ranged in age from teenagers to senior citizens shows just how interested residents are in the future development of their community.
"One thing HRM planning was trying to cover (during the meeting) was amending the bylaw for the area out here for developing. It's pretty much single-dwelling units now," said Dalrymple.
"They're looking at changing it so multi-unit dwellings could be put in under very specific circumstances."
One issue that has been brought up with increasing frequency is the community's need for a seniors facility. Amending the municipal-planning strategy and land-use bylaw to permit housing forms other than single-unit dwellings would make it easier for a developer to construct something like a seniors facility.
"We're losing a lot of our seniors. It breaks a lot of people's hearts to see them leaving," Dalrymple said. "The lots, the homes, they need upkeep. Instead, seniors leave (the community) and get smaller condos or apartments. We're losing them."
A large parcel of land referred to as "the Baker property" between Fall River Village and Fall River Road was also discussed as a hypothetical site for a seniors facility if city water could be brought to the site.
"It boils down to costing," Dalrymple said.
Dalrymple said discussions about Fall River development inevitably lead residents to examine existing problems. He believes over crowded schools, "huge" local traffic issues, and a lack of overall facilities must all be taken into consideration.
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca