An appeal has been filed regarding the construction of a budget-friendly housing project in Amherst, N.S., causing a delay in the initiation of building the apartment complexes. The YMCA of Cumberland is spearheading the development of 36 units across two structures located at 1 Albion St., with plans for their housing outreach team to operate from one of the buildings. A third of the units are designated for supportive housing, pending funding approval from the province.
Trina Clarke, the YMCA of Cumberland’s CEO, expressed understanding of the appeal process, stating their confidence in the development procedures. The development agreement for the project was approved by Amherst town council in July with a 4-2 vote, with Coun. Dwayne Ripley and Coun. Nic Furlong dissenting.
The appeal, submitted by Amherst resident Ray Hickey on Aug. 4, raised concerns about the potential conflicts arising from the supportive housing and office facilities, impacting nearby businesses, services, and residents. Hickey emphasized community frustrations due to existing issues such as open drug use and safety concerns following a fatal shooting in April.
Ashley Legere, the executive director of the Cumberland Homelessness and Housing Support Association, highlighted ongoing community engagement efforts post-incident to address concerns. Legere stressed the importance of managing risks to staff and guests as a top priority.
Despite not being directly involved in the YMCA project, Legere acknowledged the project’s potential contribution to resolving the housing crisis. The development received endorsements from various local non-profits and Nova Scotia Health during the planning phase, with Clarke emphasizing its role in addressing long-standing downtown issues.
Hickey also contested the lack of amenity space in the project, alleging a violation of the municipal planning strategy. Plans include just over 300 square meters of shared outdoor space between buildings without balconies, falling short of the minimum required amenity space in the land-use bylaw. However, Andrew Fisher, the town’s planning director, defended the project, stating that the negotiated development agreement deemed the provided amenity space sufficient.
Clarke estimated that the appeal process could postpone groundbreaking work by six to twelve months, expressing concern over delays in addressing the growing housing crisis. The project aims to provide housing support to vulnerable individuals, with housing outreach staff having assisted 186 homeless individuals in the county over the past year, half of whom sought help for the first time.