New access route approved for Halifax business park

Halifax regional councillors have approved a proposal for a development in Chebucto that will provide a third access route into the congested Bayers Lake big-box shopping district.

Clayton Developments Ltd. wants to construct townhouses, apartment buildings and small commercial properties on 80 acres of land inthe Halifax subdivision of Clayton Park West.

The first stage of the project was approved very quickly at a Monday nightmeeting of the Chebucto Community Council.

As part of the developer's plan, an underpass will be built beneath Highway 102, providing a third way in and out of Bayers Lake Business Park.

Regency Park Drive in Mount Royale will be linked to an extended Washmill Lake Court in the business park, near the IMAX theatre.

The council's approval means Clayton Developments can go ahead and do some preliminary designs and planning for that area.

The details of the development have already been worked out by the company, said Michael Hanusiuk, senior vice-president and general manager.

"We're going to acquire some land, trade some land, and HRM [Halifax Regional Municipality] is responsible for creating the underpass," he said.

The councillor for the area, Mary Wile, said the cost of the underpass will be split among the three levels of government under the federal economic stimulus program.

People should start to see construction on the underpass this year and work on the Clayton Park West development in late 2010.

Wile said many residents like the idea of a third access point to the shopping district.

"We have a terrible, terrible lineup right now going up Lacewood or coming in from the St. Margaret's Bay Road, and it can be extremely busy," said Wile.

The Lacewood Drive route averages about 40,000 vehicles a day, she said.

Wile said some residents didn't like the original plan that had the underpass crossing Highway 102 and cutting through the Green Park Close cul de sac.

"It's not a wide, wide street, and it's mostly seniors living there," she said.