The document summarizes discussions from a visioning gathering regarding open spaces in Cole Harbour. Some key themes discussed include: preserving and enhancing recreation opportunities on the estuary and lakes; improving trail connections between open spaces; ensuring adequate parking and transit access to spaces; protecting natural habitats and scenic views; promoting arts, culture, and community events; and balancing development with preservation of the rural character. Maintaining existing spaces and involving the community were also emphasized.

1. Visioning Gathering – October 22 2011
Table Top Notes
Sheet 1
Theme
Recreation on the estuary itself (boating, canoeing on lakes)
Schools are a draw
Recreation was an attraction esp.w/a 13yr old
Proximity to downtown….transit
Design play structures…creative/unique…not from a catalogue
Connect up open spaces
Draw out uniqueness of each space
Open/accessible waterfront can do wonders
Take ideas fr. Kids
Warm swimming around the railway path
Transit access to open spaces
Parking too small @ Rainbow Haven…don‟t ticket….adequate parking
Put up small-scale wind turbines for awareness/change thoughts….power
concession stand
Calgary bike trails are wonderful, wide open & accessible railway tracks
Make existing infrastructure better….maintain the open spaces
Access/connections to public spaces better
Murals
Public art that speaks to the community (dolphin bike racks)
Keep the kids here!
Not usual playground something original. Better quality to begin with.
Need arts culture focus. Rock concerts
Central outdoor multi-serviced area
Lots of business & sports but there is no arts/culture…need more arts/culture
Signage/wayfinding central map area
Macdonald tea house views
Build on uniqueness…look offs….fauna
Traffic a problem @R.H.
Do something w/ (interpret) geology. Mineville. Rainbow Haven
Lawrencetown/CH trail connect to Keltic Gardens (subdivision)
Connect subdivisions to open spaces
Public art!
1 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
October 28, 2011

2. Visioning Gathering – October 22 2011
Table Top Notes
Sheet 2
Proper planning
Would like to see Colby Village type but planned development so “upscale” &
green
Safe walking trails within communities connecting parks, recreational facilities,
libraries nearby
Wildlife how can we protect habitat…the wildlife in Lawrencetown area
Protect scenic views (where height cell towers bldgs.)
How to accommodate various uses of beach areas…kiters, surfers, walkers,
horse riders, picnic, dog areas, wildlife
Restricting developers then something to compensate those who maintain
greenspaces leaving individual families to pay the burden of maintaining….ie
taxes for undeveloped land
Would like the area to be kept as undeveloped and natural/rural as possible
Means for more community involvement/participation
Pg 1 #3 question options are all about development not protecting habitat for
wildlife or non use
Circles of green space and suburbs develop around them
Wetlands/marshes…protect…wetlands can be developed c
Retain rural nature/controlled development
Transit opportunities
Education/respect for amenities
Community participation (horses/atv)
Means to deconflict means to collaborate
2 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
October 28, 2011

3. Visioning Gathering – October 22 2011
Table Top Notes
Sheet 3
Cole Harbour Harvest Festival
Lawrencetown Surfing Competition
Mineville Outdoor Recreational Festival
Estuary
o last open space on estuary went to landowner
 was protected, but owner kept filling in the natural wetland w/ dirt
& rocks
 developer built it up to make usable land
 built houses
 destroyed natural habitat – wildlife gone
Access to natural spaces (beaches, lakes, rivers, etc.)
o Connect communities by active transportation
o Trails would be a clean, active living
o Connect rec. fishing, hiking
o Being connected to natural spaces & educational opportunities
Community gardening opportunity
„bring back the farm‟ – promote „living off the land‟
Set up interpretive centers. (types of birds, animals, plants, etc. native to area)
Conservation easements
Better quality access
Focus on what we have
o Improve existing
Adequate parking
Solve emergency access issue
Shuttle bus to major attractions (ie. Rainbow Haven)
Protect natural habitat – keep space for animals
Have community design play structures to be built
o Promote creativity & reflect community locally
Protection
o Need protection but not at land owners expense
o Compensate land owners who have valued land but are not allowed to use
it for personal gain
o Protect land owners
Access
3 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
October 28, 2011

4. Visioning Gathering – October 22 2011
Table Top Notes
Sheet 4
Proposed sewage outfall going into Cole Harbour: people in Cole Hrb. (Ritcey,
Settle, etc) rallied against that plan
Preserving the Coastal Heritage Park lands started by farmers, residents of Cole
HArbour (Bissets, Giles, etc) who owned the lands…… for future generations
enjoy it like they did.
Accessible
Safe
Protected
Connected
Teaching tool
Ownership/community pride
Reclaim our rivers & lakes through education
Sustainable CH
Assets of attractions to newcomers
Relevant
Information source
4 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
October 28, 2011

5. Visioning Gathering – October 22 2011
Table Top Notes
Sheet 5
Rainbow Haven fantastic
Families use trails
Community wardens
History of agriculture
Can‟t eat money
Improve public transport to Rainbow Haven
Traffic control…sidewalks….shuttle….trails
History of community
Saltmarsh trails gives solace and quiet
Sacred green spaces
Balanced thoughtful development
Not rezoned….not used for other
Cole Harbour Festival
Sliding on Ritcey Hill
Spaces provide family connections
Easier to walk to places….alternative routes….safety
Schools have outdoor classrooms
Community veggie gardens
Sustain? Where does longterm mtu $ come from?
Avoid big box stores
Streets more self contained ie services
Streets less drive through
Community information center
Information about open space, directions to destinations…interpretation
Preservation
pro-active development
positive growth
5 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
October 28, 2011

6. Visioning Gathering – October 22 2011
Table Top Notes
Sheet 6
who manages and maintains the open spaces – are they all identified!
When the land owners who now maintain some of these areas are gone who is
going to look after it?
No protection for the private land owners
Public education
Planned development
Re-establish farming elements of the community
Clearly identify the spaces usage
Green spaces must be sacred & not re-zoned
Use properties….open harbor….drive down to waters edge
Available….Identified….designated
Maintained
Protected…proper planning for services
Rural life is a draw
Tranquility
The lost world
Harvest festival
When there is a threat
Salt Marsh Trail Running Club
Cole Harbour Place expansion
You can‟t stop progress…but plan it well!
6 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
October 28, 2011

7. Visioning Gathering – October 22 2011
Table Top Notes
Sheet 7
Natural environment of neighbourhoods open to all
Buffer zones (water)
Protection of viewplanes
Meeting spaces (ie red barn)….gathering place/highlight heritage/rest
spot…builds social experience
Plan never complete
Add open spaces as communities develop
Plan ahead
User fee vs free parks, trails, water….balance….sportsfield affordable
Long term cost a very important factor to consider at outset
Sustainability
Land use – to allow for use by both people and pets
Protection…preservation…public
Interpretive signage
Environmental of ecosystem….enhancement and restoration
Ensure important public space be maintained for public use ie community
coastal access sites
Balance…private vs public….between who pays to maintain views over open
spaces
Connectivity and accessibility…physical…social
Stewardship: educational aspect
7 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
October 28, 2011

8. Visioning Gathering – October 22 2011
Table Top Notes
Sheet 8
Suggestions:
o Showers/washrooms canteen @ Conrad‟s Beach
o No motorized vehicles on trails
o Farmers market in Cole Harbour Place
o Bike lane on Lawrencetown Road/Cole Harbour Road & Bissett Road &
Cow Bay Road
o Harvest Festival at Cole Harbour Place
o Surfing competitions…bike races to/at Lawrencetown Beach
o Washrooms/showers/canteen – Lawrencetown…Rainbow Haven
o Traffic light @ Ross Road
o Traffic light @ Bisset & Cole Harbour
o Review transportation objectives to trails in Cole Harbour/Bissett Road
area
o On road bike trails
o Protecting existing buildings
Future Treasures
o Playground/park on Seabreeze Heights (Lawrencetown)
o Meeting place/coffee shop/farmers in old red barn area (like Bike „n Barn
St Margarets Baycake or Public Gardens café)
o Coffee shop @ Lawrencetown Beach
o Extend season of Lawrencetown Beach washrooms
o Bike lanes Bissett, Lawrencetown, Cole Harbour & Cow Bay Roads
o Bus routes to Lawrencetown & Cow Bay
o Bus for Rainbow Haven to cut on the traffic
8 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
October 28, 2011

9. Visioning Gathering – October 22 2011
Table Top Notes
Sheet 9
Pool/tennis complex
Parks & trails/DNR rails
Route 207 – cycling
Harvest festival – CHP
Baseball/soccer
Hurricane Juan clean-up efforts
Wildfire 2008
“Horses”/boarding & trails
Old road corridors
Farm & meeting house heritage areas
Viewplanes
Coastal parks
Beaches
Joey Dipeta 2007
Sid Crosby 2009
Stanley Cups
Spaces need to be:
o Maintained
o Multi-functional
o Exciting
Keep the beauty
1 – multifunctional
2- well maintained
3 – natural open spaces
o Beaches
Broader scope of parks
Unique parks
o Connect them
o More connection to trails
Rehab centre – Bissett Rd??
Protect lands
Access to trails
Outdoor venues
Function for wildlife as well as people
Wall art
How to let people know of it all
9 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
October 28, 2011

10. Visioning Gathering – October 22 2011
Table Top Notes
Sheet 10
Put it to work (Tim)
o Public voice
o Steering committee/stakeholder
o HRM (tech team)
Process of Cge…. Etiquette (Rach)
Smart design of open spaces
Maintenance costs of development
Continuation of recreation spaces
o Natural state & built spaces maintained too
o Integrating multi-use of spaces
o Stewards of spaces
o Ownership & community involvement
Protection of habitat for animals & humans
Transit in & around area not just through
10 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
October 28, 2011

11. Visioning Gathering – October 22 2011
Table Top Notes
Sheet 11
“Save the open spaces from future encroachment because when we are gone
our grandchildren are stuck with our mistakes. Keep accountable”
For the future the open spaces must be SACRED & they don‟t have to be used all
the time – they are still valuable & needed. Don‟t get rid of them.
Keep the public trails to a minimum & not huge parking lots. All of the above will
be better for wildlife.
Maintain the greenbelts – we need oxygen from the trees
Opportunities for unstructured activities that are safe for children – today parents
are so fearful due to media pressure
Camping facilities are needed in this area
Encourage use of all the open space & sports areas!
We need bicycle trails!
Enhanced transit
Long term sustainability
The McKees came to Cole Harbour because of the farm & the socially involved
running the farm – a huge sense of community
The old railway trail is the most wonderful part of the Cross Canada Trail & it is
very well used by the community – almost a meeting place
It used to be all open spaces until the community encroached upon it….this as
gone on for 200 years….in the 1960‟s the l…….
Nora (painter) – no place better for a variety of wonderful scenes to paint. I
never run out of something to excite me.
Joan E… & husband chose the Bisset Road location for their business & home
when they stood there & saw a horse under a chestnut tree it was home!
Spaces….doesn‟t deteriorate get ignored….is kept up even if (apparently)
underused
Multipurpose spaces…good use of our taxes – we have to believe it is!
New barn incorporate information centre…interpretive centre….visitor centre.
Land for unstructured use
11 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
October 28, 2011

12. Visioning Gathering – October 22 2011
Table Top Notes
Sheet 12
Question #3 - Core Themes
o Protection
 History
 Wildlife
 Natural beauty
o Flexible
 Useage
 Generations
 Multi-useage
o Community input/volunteer help
o Some non-developed/non rural areas
o Don‟t develop everywhere until you have protection for natural spaces
Major tournaments
Sydney
Special events
High profile – NS Power lines
o Political issues
Community involvement – buy in
Safe
Advertise they exist
Monitored to a degree
Accessible all modes
Too many rules. None
Well invested maintained
Some non developed spaces
Save what we have! Protected
Flexible
o Multi-use
o Multi season use
o Multi purpose
o Multi generational
Question #2 Accessed on a regular basis
o Salt marsh
o Estuary
o Beaches
o lawrencetown
Community engagement regular basis
Protected wildlife….support to/for volunteer
Maintain history
Keep as natural as possible
12 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
October 28, 2011

13. Visioning Gathering – October 22 2011
Table Top Notes
Sheet 13
I would like more sidewalks
To build more playgrounds for the kids
Places for fun
Playgrounds & walking trails
Music to my ears…..
13 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
October 28, 2011

14. Visioning Gathering – October 22 2011
Table Top Notes
Sheet 14
Maintain….restore…protect!
Two rules
Consistency….follow through…..long term planning
All inclusive
1) HRM, 2) Trans Canada Trail, 3) Health
New technology for STP/on-site
Limitations to central sewershed capacity….possible diversion to Dartmouth STP
Community gardens
Signs to connect to parks & trails
Liveable neighbourhoods
Recreation areas….commons/amphitheatre
Safe transportation corridors….#7/#207/#107
An organized and controlled dog-park
Open spaces need to become?
Old Rehab property?
Seniors housing?
Cultural recreation
Events & alive
o Cole Harbour festival & parade
o Canada games
o Cup parade
o Treasure event – CHP
o Surfing events
o Fireworks
o Heritage farm – folk nights, suppers
14 Open Spaces: Cole Harbour Basin
October 28, 2011