1. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Project 1
Beautiful Open Spaces need to be versatile. (C-a.c.d.e.f.g.) Host Jan S.
o Pondering the future land use of the County of Halifax Rehab
Hospital Property.
i. In relation to the Forrest Hills Common, Bisset Lake Park and the
Coastal Heritage Park what are the unique characteristics of the
Rehab Lands?
ii. Please conduct a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats
(SWOT) Analysis.
Essential Info:
Demolition of Rehab Hospital buildings
Big Questions:
Future use of the site
Integration with open space uses
Contribution to open space
Round #1: What is at the root of your project?
Solar farm (artistic)
Lake usage
Trails
Active sports fields
Park
Not building development
From map sheet – solar farm/art; healthy lake needed – storm sewage drains
stopped; connecting community to trails; sports fields; not developed into
residencies, etc; park land
Round #2: What could be added to make this project/initiative more
complete?
Protect shoreline
A dog park
Turf field
View (elements cannot take from the view)
Interpretive centre
1 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

2. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Parking
Bathroom
Safe area playground
Active living style
Picnic area
Masterplan
From map sheet – protect view; not homes; sport fields; connect to CHH Park;
preserve sightlines; dog park; don’t develop it;soccer – park land; cemetary?;
park with bathrooms; interpretive centre
Round #3: What are your next steps and key learnings?
Accessible shoreline of the lake.
From map sheet – picnic park like Dartmouth Common; community garden;
water access; sportsfields; beach area; boating access; cross country recreation
BMX – run – ski; protect the view; accessible park (sports); municipal park to
marry up with provincial park
Raised Dec 6/11 in relation to Project #6 – consider opportunities and
constraints of equestrian use on public open spaces. Please note the thread with
open spaces policy (project #11), versatility (project #1), and connections
(project #4).
What have I learned?
2 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

3. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Project 2
Great Open Spaces need to display our Heritage. (C-b.h.) Host Charley S &
CHP&T.
o Raising the Red Barn.
i. What should the new barn be like inside and outside?
Essential Info:
What should the barn look like.
Big Questions:
Exterior?
Interior?
What should be inside?
Round #1: What is at the root of your project?
Portion of trail use equestrian
Easy access to barn
Versatility of barn for community space – Boy Scouts, Guides, Schools
Scenery – history & culture
“Missing Red Barn scenery.”
Round #2: What could be added to make this project/initiative more
complete?
Farmer’s market
o Local produce
o Community garden
Multi-use function
Open field – use farmland
Business opportunities
Museum – preserving history
Barn looks like a barn
Multi-purpose rooms
Community use
Round #3: What are your next steps and key learnings?
3 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

4. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Multi-use once the shell is up
o Tea room
o Sun room
Windows at the back
Keep original style, original look
What have I learned?
Barn was an icon
Barn reconstructed
Versatility in accommodating future use
4 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

5. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Project 3
Great Open Spaces help to form our Identity. (C-a.b.h.i.) Hosts Seamus M &
Frances M.
o Identifying a Cultural Core.
i. What are the key characteristics of a Cultural Core? (views, access,
concentrations of facilities, etc.)
ii. Where are the great views (landscapes and landmarks –
experiential assessments)?
iii. Where is the great access (wayfinding & promotion)?
iv. What facilities could be combined/concentrated facilities (eg
heritage farm and red barn)?
v. Where would you consider 3 great locations for a Cultural Core?
Essential Info:
Big Questions:
How can open spaces contribute to our cultural/heritage?
How do we prioritize our resources?
How do we really appreciate our culture/heritage?
Round #1: What is at the root of your project?
Farming heritage in CHP.
Connect CHP trails with Meeting House and,
Bell House – Long Hill view (at Bell House) is part of the cultural core
Cemeteries are part of core
Round #2: What could be added to make this project/initiative more
complete?
Connect Cherry Brook with CH via historic Miller r.o.w.
Connect to core via Lawrencetown r.o.w. & Ritcey Cr. View
Don’t over regulate
Keep ATV & off-leash on Lawrencetown r.o.w.
Round #3: What are your next steps and key learnings?
Records storehouse of CH history at Heritage Farm
5 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

6. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Heritage Farm is Gateway to CH cultural core
Black Cultural Centre also a gateway
Heritage farm interprets, it is part of cultural core
Core includes views, trails, BCC, HCC land, r.o.w’s, Heritage farm, Bell/Meeting
house
What have I learned?
6 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

7. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Project 4a
Beautiful Open Spaces need to be connected to great communities. (C-
a.e.f.j.) Host Rob J.
o Looking at The Cole Harbour Place to Rainbow Haven Corridor.
i. How would you connect the 8 kilometres between Rainbow Haven,
Coastal Heritage Park, and Cole Harbour Place? In a motor vehicle;
on a bicycle; two feet and a heartbeat?
ii. Where are the tough parts?
iii. Where are the easy parts?
iv. How important is the visual experience?
Essential Info:
8 kilometres
Partial on-road
Crossing Cole Harbour Road
Big Questions:
Priority
Paved shoulders
Views along the way
Round #1: What is at the root of your project?
Already connections – make them better (the buses, the bike lanes, the trails)
Respect the coastal shoreline
validated
Round #2: What could be added to make this project/initiative more
complete?
Paved shoulders
Cow Bay/Dyke Road loop
Improve intersection at Cole Harbour Road/Bissett/John Stewart
Arklow to CH Road
Improve the trail access @ Arklow/John Stewart
Widen trail
Round #3: What are your next steps and key learnings?
7 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

8. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Phasing
Add Cow Bay Road
Balance the easy & the tough parts (safety)
o Intersection
o Paved shoulders
Discover/partner with Rainbow Haven parking seasonal
What have I learned?
Rekindled passion
8 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

9. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Project 4b
Beautiful Open Spaces need to be connected to great communities. (C-
a.e.f.j.) Hosts Dawn N & April S.
o Helping with Old Lawrencetown/Old Miller Rd Corridors.
i. How would you build a 2 kilometre trail between Old Lawrencetown
Road in Forrest Hills to the Cole Harbour Estuary?
ii. How would you build a 2.5 kilometre trail between the Black
Cultural Centre and Cole Ridge Estates?
Essential Info:
Big Questions:
How to connect 207, L’town to CH Place
Connect Ritcey to Ross Rd to Main Street
Round #1: What is at the root of your project?
Old Lawrencetown Road
o Preserve greenways
o Adjacent landowner concerns: dumping, illegal activity….
o Uses: atv’s displaced
Round #2: What could be added to make this project/initiative more
complete?
Trail parking
People control
Accessing their lands concern
Connect to Black Cultural Centre & Main Street
Round #3: What are your next steps and key learnings?
Great to cycle/walk on Old L’town Road
Safe and quicker access to Cole Hbr Place, schools and neighbours
Connect to Flying Point & SM Trail
Raised Dec 6/11 in relation to Project #6 – consider opportunities and
constraints of equestrian use on public open spaces. Please note the thread with
open spaces policy (project #11), versatility (project #1), and connections
(project #4).
9 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

10. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Raised Dec 6/11 – consider opportunities and constraints of crossing Hwy #107
at Cherry Brook intersection and Lake Major/Ross Road intersection.
What have I learned?
Protect natural environment
Small footprint
Connect communities
Protect waterways
10 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

11. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Project 4c
Beautiful Open Spaces need to be connected to great communities. (C-
a.e.f.j.). Hosts Rob M & David M.
o Consider The highway #207 Image Route Corridor
i. How would you build a 2.5 kilometre cycling route from Bissett
Road to Ross Road?
ii. How would you build a walking route from Bissett Road to Ritcey
Crescent?
Essential Info:
Big Questions:
When can this be done?
Is it worth the investment?
How can it connect?
Round #1: What is at the root of your project?
Pave shoulders both sides with rumble strip
Sidewalk too $
Designated bus stops
Traffic concerns
Crossing #207
Extend sidewalk & pave shoulders on Ross Road between #207 and Hwy #7
Bishop properties purchase?
Paved shoulder less maintenance
Link #207 to Salt Marsh Trail
Round #2: What could be added to make this project/initiative more
complete?
Wide lane safer with blind spots
Advantage is would help with wash-out
Bissett/Cow Bay Rd needs wider shoulder
Potential connection between #207 & Salt Marsh Trail via Flying Point
Tourism potential
Some prefer off road
11 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

12. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Round #3: What are your next steps and key learnings?
Link Ross Rd sidewalks to the #207
Corner @ bottom of Long Hill concerns
Need for this!!
What have I learned?
See the need and benefits.
12 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

13. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Project 5
Great Communities need to be Sustainable. (EC-a.) Hosts Roger W. & Kevin
G.
o Pondering Sustainable Development in the Cole Harbour Basin?
i. What is Sustainable Development?
ii. What are some examples of sustainability?
iii. Is sustainable development possible in the Cole Harbour Basin?
Essential Info:
Vacant lands available for development (yellow)
Estuary is sensitive to development
Regional plan review
Big Questions:
What does sustainability mean to you?
Allow development; what kind?
What controls?
Round #1: What is at the root of your project?
“Community within a Park”
“Community” needs to include trails, greenways, parks
Development is necessary to “sustain” the community and its services
Current rules prohibitive
Round #2: What could be added to make this project/initiative more
complete?
All development needs to address impacts of climate change & sea level rise; ie,
setbacks from watercourses, wetlands, coastline – larger buffer areas (control
stormwater)
Rehab Ctr Lands great opportunity for artistic solar farm development
(destination point for community & region)
Round #3: What are your next steps and key learnings?
Salmon R. floodplain
13 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

14. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Stormwater run-off from existing & future development, include quantity and
quality.
Sea level rise – increase setbacks
Causeway – look at opening to enable flushing/flow and boat access
Defer development until flooding/stormwater issues addressed.
What have I learned?
Folks were engaged and are passionate about the basin.
I enjoyed the evening
14 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

15. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Project 6
Beautiful Open Spaces Need Great Stewardship. (EC-b.) Hosts Michael M. &
Paul E.)
o Considering the future of the Cole Harbour Causeway and Salt
Marsh Trail.
i. Have you been on the causeway & trail?
ii. What are the unique characteristics of the causeway & trail?
iii. Please conduct a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats
(SWOT) Analysis for the causeway and trail.
Essential Info:
Rail bed
Trans Canada Trail
Water quality
Wildlife
Big Questions:
Keep it?
Restore it?
Improve it?
Round #1: What is at the root of your project?
SMT must exist but we improve water & environment
Round #2: What could be added to make this project/initiative more
complete?
Enhanced awareness = increased support
Design to improve water flow/survival of SMT
Adaptive management
Round #3: What are your next steps and key learnings?
Tidal flow analysis
Last section being “improved”
Get some more design expertise
15 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

16. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Raised Dec 6/11 – consider opportunities and constraints of equestrian use on
public open spaces. Please note the thread with open spaces policy (project
#11), versatility (project #1), and connections (project #4).
What have I learned?
16 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

17. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Project 7
Beautiful Open Spaces need great Planning. (EC-c.) Host Rachael D.
o Preparing Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin Plan.
i. What are your expectations of the Plan?
ii. How do you understand your role in the product?
iii. What has worked well so far?
iv. How would you do things differently?
Essential Info:
Public gatherings
On-street
online
Big Questions:
how is this process so far?....what is good?
Improvements?
How to stay involved?
Round #1: What is at the root of your project?
Engage many diverse people early
All landowners listed in database – collaborate with them
Advertising – glo signs
Post on web report draft before it goes to Council
o Feedback
o Opportunity if you support it to engage Councillor
How can people share what’s happening with their networks?
Round #2: What could be added to make this project/initiative more
complete?
How do we plan for rising sea level & renewable energy?...get around “NIMBY”
Much work & studies done in past 40 years – use it
Present to community groups
Round #3: What are your next steps and key learnings?
Concert benefit for rehab Lands/Red Barn – tell people how to get engaged
17 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

18. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Buses advertising
Public hiking
o Offer routes
o Schedule hike
o Ask for feedback – volksmarch, geocaching
What have I learned?
Engage landowners
Renewable energy plan
Fun & creative ways to keep people involved
18 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

19. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Project 8
Beautiful Open Spaces need to be Promoted. (EC-d.) Hosts Deanna W. &
Gary Y.)
o Prepare a Wayfinding Strategy.
i. What open spaces need better promotion?
ii. How would you promote the Beautiful Open Spaces in the Cole
Harbour Basin?
Essential Info:
Getting around to & through all the great open spaces in the area.
More than signage
Big Questions:
Round #1: What is at the root of your project?
Promoting the open space connections to everyone especially the students –
connecting to education system.
Farms to school – buy local
Promoting our green spaces & active transportation
Round #2: What could be added to make this project/initiative more
complete?
Information signage that adds legitimacy & validity to the great open spaces in
the area.
Open for multi-use.
Signage to ensure/confirm it is OK to use these spaces
Greenspaces within our communities – walk to
Round #3: What are your next steps and key learnings?
Improved promotion of what we already have
Have wonderful open spaces
What have I learned?
Improve promotion legitimacy & validity of access
o Access
19 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

20. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
o Walk
o Bike
Make connections – especially for students our future
Promote multi-use
20 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

21. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Project 9
Beautiful Open Spaces Need Great Access. (EC-e.) Hosts Kemp M. & Hugh M.
o Consider our Access to the Estuary.
i. Is it important?
ii. Where does the road network (grey) touch the water (blue)?
1. Are these places important?
2. Should we be able to touch the water from these places?
iii. Where does the park network (green) touch the water (blue)?
1. Are these places important?
2. Should we be able to touch the water from these places?
o Consider our access to the Coastal Heritage Park.
i. What is working well about the 4 existing access points along
Bissett Road?
ii. What would you do differently?
iii. Should the park be accessible from Cole Harbour Road and the Cole
Harbour Meeting House?
Essential Info:
There are four existing accesses to the Coastal Heritage Park
There are both active and passive uses
Big Questions:
Are these accesses important?
Should the park be accessible from Cole Harbour Road?
Round #1: What is at the root of your project?
View access from #207 is important
Trail access formalized at Mineville end (signage)
Washrooms at trailhead (Red Barn)
Round #2: What could be added to make this project/initiative more
complete?
Limit formal access from #207 to estuary
No formal frontage to Crown land from tanner
Parking on roads where no parking lot can be issues.
21 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

22. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Round #3: What are your next steps and key learnings?
Capital development of formal access at Mineville end.
What have I learned?
Good access exists at Park
Additional access necessary (both view and for active use)
22 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

23. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Project 10
Great Open Spaces need to protect our Natural Gems. (EN-a.) Hosts Richard
M. & John C.
o Consider the health of the Cole Harbour Estuary.
i. What do you think impacts the health of the estuary?
o Consider the potential for the estuary.
i. For its visual landscape?
ii. For fishing?
iii. For recreation?
iv. For agriculture?
v. For energy?
Essential Info:
DNR – waterfowl survey
Ducks Unlimited
Ongoing citizen observations
Big Questions:
What is the health of the estuary?
Who is the info champion?
Round #1: What is at the root of your project?
Gaining information on bio-diversity & estuary health to know baseline & ongoing
measurement scientific)
Round #2: What could be added to make this project/initiative more
complete?
Add: observational subjective information & citizen science & non-human data
Round #3: What are your next steps and key learnings?
Sharing of information & using for management & policy decisions
What have I learned?
Local knowledge runs deep!
23 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

24. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Project 11
Beautiful Open Spaces need everyone’s Protection and Stewardship. (EN-
b.c.d.) Hosts Cathy S. & Brian K.
o Evaluate the Zoning, land use by-laws, and incentives.
i. How effective are municipal regulations?
ii. How effective are provincial regulations?
iii. How effective are federal regulations?
iv. How can we encourage our neighbours to protect beautiful open
spaces?
Essential Info:
Current parks & open space lands are owned by HRM, Province and Federal
governments.
Big Questions:
Are the parks and open space lands adequately protected now? If not what do
we need to improve?
What other critical lands, if any, should be acquired for parks and open space?
How can we better engage private landowners in achieving protection and
stewardship objectives in the Cole Harbour Basin?
Round #1: What is at the root of your project?
Better cooperation between Province & HRM in the protection of existing park
land (eg. ATVs)
Keep open space properties as natural as possible (no incompatible
development)
Nice stand of trees on private lands just off Bissett Road (west side) along south
side of rail corridor.
Round #2: What could be added to make this project/initiative more
complete?
Baseline information on health of estuary is critical
Minimize impacts of urban use on estuary
Enforce environmental regulations (eg sewage, industrial discharges)
24 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

25. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Concern that private landowners weren’t involved in the early stages of this
exercise
More openings in causeway to improve flushing of estuary
Round #3: What are your next steps and key learnings?
Ensure development permits obtained/regulations followed
Estuary is a natural filter
Raised Dec 6/11 in relation to Project #6 – consider opportunities and
constraints of equestrian use on public open spaces. Please note the thread with
open spaces policy (project #11), versatility (project #1), and connections
(project #4).
What have I learned?
People are passionate about the estuary & open space lands
Lots of knowledge (firsthand) about the estuary
25 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

26. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Themes from Visioning Gathering October 22, 2011
Culture
a) Open spaces should be multi-use, multi-purpose, multi-generational
b) Protecting the history and cultural heritage (eg. Farming traditions)
c) Public art and performance
d) Can play-structures be designed by children?
e) Places for fun and socializing such as amphitheatre, stages, more playgrounds
and trails
f) Safety of open spaces
g) Meeting and gathering spaces
h) Open spaces should be the centre of public education programs
i) What is our community and cultural identity?
j) (Moved from Economy) Connectivity and access to open spaces: public transit,
trails, roadways, parking, sidewalks, bike lanes
Translation
1. Beautiful Open Spaces need to be versatile. (C - a.c.d.e.f.g.)
2. Great Open Spaces need to display our Heritage. (C - b.h.)
3. Great Open Spaces help to form our Identity. (C - a.b.h.i.)
4. Beautiful Open Spaces need to be connected to great communities. (C -
a.e.f.j.)
26 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011

27. Innovations Gathering – November 30th 2011
Harvest
Economy
a. Financial sustainability: can sustainable development support this community?
b. Maintaining and protecting existing and future infrastructure
c. Long term planning and follow through
d. Communication – social media, education, awareness
e. Physical and social access to the spaces
Translation
5. Great Communities need to be Sustainable (EC - a.)
6. Beautiful Open Spaces Need Great Stewardship (EC - b.)
7. Beautiful Open Spaces need great Planning (EC - c.)
8. Beautiful Open Spaces need to be Promoted (EC - d.)
9. Beautiful Open Spaces Need Great Access (EC - e.)
Environment
a. Protection and restoration of ecosystems, natural habitat, history, viewplanes
and beauty
b. Keeping undeveloped land in the area sacred and preserved
c. Interpretive Nature Walks
d. Education and Stewardship
Translation
10. Great Open Spaces need to protect our Natural Gems (EN - a.)
11. Beautiful Open Spaces need Everyone’s Protection and
stewardship (EN - b.c.d.)
27 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
December 9, 2011