Town of Chester Incorporation Study

Project Description
In 1998, a group of residents in Chester Nova Scotia, dissatisfied with what they perceived as a lack of control over their community's future, decided to explore incorporation under the Town's Act. A detailed assessment of the community's needs as a separate municipality and their associated costs was required. A series of public information meetings was held to keep the community apprised of the study's findings and to solicit input.

Services Provided
Terrain Group was retained in 1998 to carry out the assessment and costing of the community's needs as a separate entity. Working closely the Chester Town Residents Committee, Terrain Group prepared the necessary documentation outlining the services and expenditures which taxpayers of the new town would be required to financially support. This analysis required extensive consultation with the current Municipality that the new town would be created out of.

Terrain Group's planning group assisted in the organization and running of the information meetings, using current technology to present the various scenarios of a highly emotional debate in a clear and understandable manner.

Being a key player in the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSURB) hearings, Terrain Group presented one of the three financial analyses and assisted the applicants in their presentation of evidence to the board.

On July 28, 2002, the NSURB found that town status is in best interest of the people of Chester and that it will have no negative financial implications to either town residents or the country residents.