HALIFAX, Feb. 17, 2017 /CNW/ - Annapolis Group today filed its statement of claim against Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) with the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, claiming approximately $120 million in damages for HRM effectively expropriating the Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lake lands without compensation.
Prior to filing the claim with the Court, Annapolis was required to provide HRM with 30 days' notice of the claim. Having provided HRM notice on January 17, 2017, Annapolis is now proceeding to commence the action.
The approximately $120 million valuation of the lands was determined by an independent valuator and is consistent with comparable expropriations and land sales in the area.
"Since 2006, when our lands were first zoned for development, we have actively tried to work with HRM in good faith to come to a reasonable compromise but HRM intentionally dragged out the process," said Rob Gillis, Vice Chair of Annapolis Group. "Because HRM has refused to allow us to develop land we have owned for over six decades, it is only fair that they pay us for effective expropriation of the lands."
Annapolis' over 900 acres of land was zoned for development by HRM in the 2006 Regional Municipal Planning Strategy. On September 6, 2016, HRM finally refused Annapolis' request to initiate secondary planning of the lands leaving Annapolis no other choice than to take legal action.
"Our proposed development would have provided over 300 acres of parkland and public access to a vast provincially-protected wilderness reserve of over 4,000 acres creating a new unique community for Halifax," said Gillis. "HRM's refusal to allow for the development to proceed, effectively expropriating our lands without compensation, has left us no other choice but to take legal action."
SOURCE Annapolis Group
Jamie MacNeil, Vice President, Nova Scotia, m5 Public Affairs, [email protected], 902-222-7316 ( c )
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