$1B project could bring thousands of housing units to Bible Hill

The Municipality of the County of Colchester is considering a project that could bring about 3,000 residential units to Bible Hill, N.S., within the next 10 years. 

The project would cost over $1 billion and is headed by Five Corners Properties, a Colchester-based group consisting of local entrepreneurs and a sitting councillor.

"It's actually the largest property development outside of HRM in all of Nova Scotia," said Five Corners CEO Evan Price. "We wanted to make sure that Bible Hill was catching up." 

The community hub would be developed on roughly 69 hectares of land between Brookside and Pictou roads. Price said the group hasn't yet applied for any funding, but he is looking forward to seeing what provincial and federal housing support programs arise.

The project consists of a variety of units to rent or own. It would include apartments, single-family, semi-detached and even luxury homes.

Price said there would be some "affordable, entry-level" prices, but it's too early to determine exact pricing. 

"It's really a source of pride to know that we're working in the communities that we all grew up in," said Price, who's from Truro.

Closing the gaps

According to Colchester County's 2023 Housing Needs Report, there was a housing shortage of 250 units in 2022. The report says the county needs 805 new units by 2027 to close that gap. 

Coun. Eric Boutilier, who represents Bible Hill and Brookside, is thrilled that the project is being explored.

"It wasn't a hard decision at all," Boutilier said of the proposal that council forwarded to the planning advisory committee.

"We all know that housing is an issue all across the province, including Colchester County. To have this development on the go… is looking good for the future."

He said the municipality hasn't committed any funding to the project, but he hopes that will come soon. Boutilier would also like to see financial contributions from the provincial and federal governments.

Boutilier said he thinks working with local developers will help ensure that the best interests of Bible Hill residents remain top of mind for everyone involved with the project. 

Two councillors connected to development

Boutilier and Coun. Lisa Patton are both connected to the Five Corners development and recuse themselves from any discussions on the proposal, either in public or in camera.

Patton is listed as one of the five directors of the numbered company that owns the land. Boutilier's wife, Janine Boutilier, is a director.

Mayor Christine Blair said while she's had inquiries from people about these conflicts, she is not aware of any formal complaints. She added that the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act carries "clear outlines" for how councillors should behave in this situation.

Municipal staff will now examine the proposal and get more information from the developer before bringing a recommendation to the planning committee. The committee will then make a recommendation to council, and there will be a public hearing before a final decision is made.

Price is emphasizing the importance of hiring as much local labour as possible to work on the development. A timeline for the project will depend on logistics, but if approved, Price estimates it would take up to 10 years to complete.