The Transit task group had information on the rural express and community transit plans and offered ideas on alternate forms of commuting until bus routes are established.

The Open Space and Trails task group presented a map of existing walking trails in the area and explained what plans are being made to explore and prioritize those trails.

The Housing task group introduced the concept of alternate housing forms and suggested possible venues for senior’s housing developments.

The Community and Economic Development task groups were looking to get answers to the questions of what to do with the old Fall River Recreation Center property and should Fall River have it’s own signature annual event.  They also sought ideas for what the community saw as a need in the way of retail services in the area.

The Community Planning Group task group, in association with Halifax Regional Municipality, unveiled their three conceptual models for the village center in a workshop that was held in the Recreation Center in conjunction with the Open House.  The models were based on suggestions gathered from the community over the past few years.  Those ideas and wishes are complied in the Fall River and Action Plan approved by HRM Council in September of 2007.

Participants were asked to pick the model that best suited their vision of “downtown Fall River”.  By the end of the workshop on Saturday afternoon, the most popular model had been chosen and the best features of the other two models were incorporated into that model.  The model showed a preference for a pedestrian oriented retail development with the Shubenacadie Canal as a focal point.  Alternate housing forms were also included as a desirable element.

Throughout the workshop it was emphasized that the models were not a development plan but an illustration of what the community wanted the area to look like in twenty five to thirty years from now.
The next task of the Fall River Vision Implementation Committee is to closely examine the model and determine which, if any, rules, regulations and bylaws need to be changed or introduced to encourage development along the lines of the model.  The committee hopes to come back to the community with the proposed changes in late autumn for final public approval before presenting any recommendations to HRM Council for changes to the municipal planning strategy.

A more detailed description of  the model and the various task group workings can be found at:
http:www.halifax.ca/visionhrm/FallRiver/CommunityPlannigGroup

Disappointed but not deterred, the VIC, spearheaded by the Community Development Task Group, continued to lobby for reconsideration of this decision by HRM. Councillor Dalrymple, who was aware of the situation, noted
that, in at least two instances, HRM school properties that closed were turned over the their local communities. Such action by HRM gave hope to the VIC that community use of the Rec Centre property might still be possible.

Fast forward to Monday, January 26. Councillor Dalrymple announced to the VIC that negotiations for the sale of the Rec Centre property had been halted and that the property was taken off the list of surplus (and,
therefore, disposable) properties.  The only bad news from Councillor Dalrymple was that the building itself, due to health and structural issues, was not useable. But, as it turned out, the VIC was already aware of that
situation. The real victory was the fact that, once again, this prime property is available for future use by the people of Fall River.

Thus, the question now is this: how will the land be used? This might be discussed at the next meeting of the VIC, scheduled for March 23, 7:00 pm, at the Open Gate. We hope to have a representative from the HRM to advise
the committee regarding the community’s role in determining how the land can and will be used. Please check the HRM website in the coming weeks, http://www.halifax.ca/visionhrm/FallRiver/ –  as the agenda for the March 23 meeting will be posted there. *This meeting is open to the public*.