We, the undersigned residents of Nova Scotia, are calling on the government to legally protect Eisner Cove Wetland also known as the Southdale Future Growth Node or the Southdale Lands.

In January 2022, the Regional Council approved the initiation of a development agreement that would allow for the construction of a 700-unit planned development by Zzap Consulting and Clayton Developments, on behalf of the landowner, A.J. Legrow Holdings Limited.

This proposal will result in significant environmental impacts to the Eisner Cove Wetland including, but not limited to: the loss of a valuable ecological space; run-off into the watercourse; increased local flooding; the destruction of habitat for flora and fauna; and the loss of a treasured community space.

Further, the destruction of the last untouched (non-park land) open space in the Regional Centre will inhibit the municipality from achieving its goals related to open space preservation set out in the Halifax Green Network Plan and climate change mitigation and adaptation targets in the HalifACT 2050 plan.

We are further concerned that the developer has started clearing the forested area (between Lynn Drive and Highway 111) up to and infringing upon the wetlands.

The commenced clearing of the area and the approval of the development process are in violation of Regional Centre Land Use By-Law 78; HRM Regional Planning Strategy Policy 2.3.2; and Regional Centre Plan Policy IM-7, sections a and c.

As such, we call on the HRM Council to:

1. Immediately cancel the development process (initiated at the January 11, 2022 Council Meeting).
2. Request a report from staff on the process for HRM to purchase the lands from Mr. Legrow; or to enter into an agreement with the Province of Nova Scotia to purchase said lands back from Mr. Legrow.
3. Work with the province of Nova Scotia to declare Eisner Cove Wetland a protected site, as requested by the Penhorn Woodlawn Community Liaison Group, the Woodside Community Vision and Action Plan, and the recommendation from the Dartmouth Lakes Advisory Board to formally conserve and protect Eisner Cove.
4. Build a boardwalk through Eisner Cove Wetland so the site can be used for local environmental education and low-impact recreation.