Apartment development approved with concessions to residents

BEDFORD
By Yvette d'Entremont - The Weekly News
Although a handful of concerned Bedford residents couldn't halt a development they believe will negatively impact their street, they did elicit a promise from their councillor to do something about their "treacherous" road.
Walter Bianchi was seeking a development agreement that would allow him to subdivide 84 Golf Links Rd. for a flag lot with a dwelling containing an apartment unit.
Concerns expressed by residents who attended the Jan. 22 public hearing mostly revolved around the safety of Golf Links Road.
"It's very, very difficult to walk on this side of the road. Two cars cannot pass on that road with a pedestrian unless the pedestrian is pushed into the ditch," said resident Donald Howell, who walks the roadway on a daily basis.
"The traffic is very quick ... Every week I have to run if I see cars coming both ways, I have to run into a driveway or they have to stop. There should be nothing put on Golf Links Road until it's fixed."
In addition to treacherous winter conditions increased by a lack of drainage on the road, there are no sidewalks and the street is regularly used by pedestrians, members of a running club, and children.
"With that driveway (at 84 Golf Links Rd.), you can't pull out unless you're on the street. It's not the case with any other driveway on Golf Links Road," Howell said.
HRM's senior design engineer Jeff Spares attended last week's public hearing to answer questions about the possibility of upgrading the road. Due to the costs associated with acquiring property, the removal of several trees, the construction of retainer walls and the topography of the road, an upgrade would cost about $1.3 million.
To install a sidewalk on one side of the street with a concrete gutter would be another $850,000. Spares said Golf Links Road is one of 220 roadways on a list for future sidewalks. He told Bedford Coun. Tim Outhit that although they could do one project without the other, it would be more beneficial if they could complete both projects at the same time.
"I know this road is a big problem ... I almost ran over a man walking his dog (on Golf Links) the other day," Outhit said.
"I also had concerns about the driveway and that's why I wanted to make it clear that I do not like that road ... It's not the only one, but it is unacceptable, especially where runners run, people walk and children walk to school. I'm determined to make it better."
Outhit said although he agreed completely with everything Howell said, the condition of the road wasn't reason enough to stop the development agreement from going forward. He said he was committed to helping residents find a solution, and noted that traffic officials indicated it could even become a one-way street with the approval of council and residents.
"Based on my commitment to improve the road, I propose we move forward," he said.
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca