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Bedford beer garden on hold due to lack of parking

CBC

17 minutes ago

Business
CBC

Bedford beer garden on hold due to lack of parking

Social Sharing After several months of construction and a single weekend of slinging pints, a new beer garden along the Bedford Highway has had to shut off its taps indefinitely after failing to meet permit requirements. Tony Makhoul, co-owner of the Bedford Beer Garden, said the business obtained a special occasion licence for its opening this past weekend, which he described as a success. But a Halifax Regional Municipality bylaw states the beer garden — located in a largely empty gravel lot along the highway — doesn't have enough parking for the number of seats at the location to continue to operate. "It's been a process," said Makhoul. "Over four weeks, I'd say, we've been going back and forth with the city, reconfiguring the site plan to accommodate more parking spaces or enough parking spaces to accommodate the seating." He said according to HRM standards, only about five parking spaces can be created around the 80-seat beer garden, well shy of the required 20 spots. It was Makhoul's understanding that certain building permits were only needed if the business was permanent in a space, which the beer garden is not, he said. Initial visits from municipal staff back in March first brought up concerns about a site survey and property lines. He added it was only in the last six weeks or so, after several site changes, that staff flagged parking as an issue. He estimates that around 90 per cent of the people who attended the opening weekend took alternative means of transportation, including walking and public transit, and he's not sure why the city is pressing the parking issue. Makhoul took to social media Wednesday in response to the latest rejection to ask that residents reach out to the local councillor to voice their support for the business. Councillor response Jean St-Amand, the councillor for Bedford-Wentworth, told reporters Thursday that he's received a number of messages since Makhoul's call to action asking what the Bedford Beer Garden can do to continue operating. "I had a nice meeting with [the owners] myself just to better understand what their setup was and what they were looking to be to the community," St-Amand said. The councillor's understanding is that the problem is with the proportion of parking spaces relative to the square footage the beer garden occupies, he said, and that there's not enough of an entry and exit point for people who have parked their vehicles. St-Amand said his hands are tied. The solution will likely come with reducing the square footage of the beer garden, he said. "It's a delicate balance because they'd be giving up space in order to make room for parking spaces," St-Amand added. Municipal response In an email, HRM spokesperson Brynn Budden said it's up to the business owner to show a beer garden meets requirements, including providing off-street parking in accordance with the land-use bylaw. Makhoul said the business has has asked about using a parking lot across the street after office hours and on the weekend. He said the parking bylaw states that offsite parking, along with street parking and proximity to transit stops, can be used to decrease the number of onsite parking spots needed for a business.

Snapping turtle lays eggs in busy Dartmouth park, prompting conservation efforts

CTV News

an hour ago

General
CTV News

Snapping turtle lays eggs in busy Dartmouth park, prompting conservation efforts

A female snapping turtle has decided to nest in a grassy field at Dartmouth's Shubie Park. A snapping turtle has once again chosen a well-trodden part of Shubie Park in Dartmouth, N.S., to dig her nest – prompting staff and conservation officials to step in and protect the eggs. The turtle was spotted earlier this week digging multiple holes in search of the perfect nesting spot. She eventually laid her eggs and made her way back to a nearby holding pond. 'There was a snapping turtle here on Wednesday,' said Jon Burns, tour guide at the Shubenacadie Canal Commission. 'It dug various different holes, buried the eggs in one, and then made its way over to the pond.' It's not the first time the reptile has chosen the park. Burns said the same turtle nested in the area for the past two years. 'She's kind of become our little mascot,' said Burns. Snapping turtles are considered a species of special concern in Nova Scotia. While not endangered, they are protected, and staff initially attempted to cordon off the nest area before realizing that a permit is required for any such barrier. Officials from a local conservation organization have been contacted and are expected to put a perimeter in place to protect the nest and keep foot traffic at a distance. 'Usually they try to stay away from highly trafficked areas,' said Burns. 'So it's not super common for a turtle to nest here but this one seems to have something it likes.' The turtle laid her eggs in late spring and staff said hatchlings aren't expected until the fall – sometime between 65 and 95 days from the time of nesting. Visitors are encouraged to watch where they step and be mindful of signs of turtle activity, including disturbed soil and filled-in holes. 'There could be more nests in the area,' said Burns. 'They prefer shallow water with soft, muddy bottoms and this park has a lot of that.' The Shubenacadie Canal Commission, which manages the area, said it hopes the site will remain undisturbed until the eggs hatch. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page

Supportive housing complex in Sydney offers stability for vulnerable people

CBC

an hour ago

General
CBC

Supportive housing complex in Sydney offers stability for vulnerable people

For Lisa Dowling, moving into Eleanor's Court has meant more than just a roof over her head. "There has to be a word better than 'love' to describe it, because it's great," said Dowling. "I finally have my own apartment. This is the stability I was looking for." Dowling is one of 25 tenants now living in the affordable and supportive housing development in Sydney, N.S. Tenants could be people who are homeless or have precarious housing. Eleanor's Court is a collaboration between New Dawn Enterprises, which owns the building, and the Cape Breton Ally Centre, which provides the staff. How this rapid housing project may save lives 2 months ago Duration 1:56 It offers 24/7 on-site security and staff to support the residents. Dowling said she lost her housing after being hospitalized for three months following several surgeries. She had also broken up with her boyfriend and discovered he had made her apartment uninhabitable while she was away. On top of that, she was still struggling with the death of her 18-year-old daughter. Then Dowling found herself homeless. "I was bounced around from house to house and was pushing a cart around town every day wondering where to sleep," she said. Then, she got a spot at the Pine Tree Park Pallet Village. The village consists of 35 temporary shelters that provide privacy and safety for vulnerable people. That is also run by the Ally Centre and New Dawn. Twenty-four out of the twenty-five residents at Eleanor's Court have also lived in the pallet shelters, freeing up more space for people who are homeless. Dowling spent six months at the village before moving to Eleanor's Court. She said she enjoyed her time there but being so far out of town made life difficult. Now she's downtown, where she can walk to the pharmacy, go to a local café, or take her new kitten, Ebony, for walks. "It's just it's perfect.… There's nothing I can say bad about it and all." There was some opposition to the apartment complex when construction was announced in 2023. Residents in the area were concerned with the appearance of the complex as well and its proximity to other residences. Bryanna MacLean, a peer support worker at Eleanor's Court, said there are misconceptions about the people living in the complex, adding many assume the residents are criminals or troublemakers. "Everyone here is just another person who has their own struggles and are trying to get through the day like everyone else," said MacLean. So far, she said everything is going smoothly since opening a few weeks ago. "I think a lot of people are adjusting nicely. I mean, it's just awesome that everybody has their own place and can kind of have refuge." The apartments are rented to residents based on income. They are allowed to stay as long as they like, but MacLean said if someone eventually wants a larger space, staff will do their best to help them find housing elsewhere. But for now, Dowling is grateful to be where she is. "We were all given a Golden Willy Wonka ticket," she said.