By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER / City Hall Reporter

Although Halifax's 25-year regional plan is meant to protect the environment, some regional councillors feel that its provisions don't go quite far enough.

At a meeting Wednesday morning, councillors made at least half a dozen suggestions to planning staff about how the plan could do more to protect Halifax's natural beauty.

While Coun. Andrew Younger (East Dartmouth-The Lakes) wants to see more protection for natural corridors, Coun. Steve Streatch (Eastern Shore-Musquodoboit Valley) said securing bigger setbacks from oceanfronts was a key issue in his district.

Coun. Bill Karsten (Portland-East Woodlawn) wants to ensure that lakes, waterways and streams are protected and not polluted by residents or businesses because of buffer zones that are too small.

That point was picked up on by Coun. Gloria McCluskey (Dartmouth Centre), who wants the buffer zone around lakes - usually about 20 metres - increased.

Likewise, Deputy Mayor Len Goucher said that public walkways planned near waterways should not be allowed in the 20-metre buffer zone and that the zone should be increased to 30 metres.

For example, he said, "To put a walkway (too close to the shores of Kearney Lake) would be devastating," he said.

On private land, owners are allowed to thin out 25 per cent of their trees - a regulation that Coun. David Hendsbee said might restrict people's enjoyment of their properties.

"Are we going to regulate every tree and get permission to cut it down? How far are we going with these?"

The regional plan is intended to direct growth in the municipality over the next 25 years in a way that can efficiently accommodate the expected 100,000 new residents.

The draft - which won't be approved until after a series of public open houses, hearings and debate at council - was written after workshops and other sessions with residents over the past months.

"They told us protecting the natural environment was a high priority and that protecting our ocean, rivers and lakes was essential," regional planning staffer John Charles told council.

Protecting open spaces and wildlife habitat while maintaining traditional uses like fishing, agriculture and forestry was also important to people, he said.

So was developing more opportunities for various types of recreation.

"Many residents commented that the wide-open spaces and pristine natural environment of HRM were defining features of the region and its overall high quality of life," he said.