The Province of Nova Scotia has created an Executive Panel on Housing to address housing challenges in the capital region. As part of this initiative, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has designated nine special planning areas in the Halifax Regional Municipality to support the development of as many as 22,600 new residential units. To help accelerate an increase in the supply of housing, as outlined in the Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act, the designation allows the Minister to make decisions on planning matters in those areas. The ten special planning areas are:
Public Feedback and Approval Process
Each of the Special Planning Areas (SPAs) are at a different stage of the planning process, with some nearing completion and others just commencing. All sites support HRM's growth strategy and are aligned with the Regional Plan. Municipal staff will be preparing the planning documents for review by the Executive Panel on Housing. Given that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has the authority to approve planning matters in the designated SPAs based on a recommendation of the Executive Panel on Housing, a formal public hearing process at Council will not be held for those areas.
Updates on the planning process for each SPA will be provided on this website along with opportunities for the public to review and comment on the proposed planning documents. Specific public engagement opportunities will be tailored for each SPA and any public feedback received will help inform municipal staff recommendations and be shared with the Executive Panel on Housing.
The Province is also investing $2.3 million to enable the municipality to conduct critical environmental, land-use suitability, transportation and infrastructure studies to inform future planning and development decisions. These areas have been identified as Future Serviced Communities that require further study. View additional information on these sites.
Former Penhorn Mall Lands
- Former Penhorn Mall Lands
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June 21, 2022
NOTICE OF APPROVAL
EXECUTIVE PANEL ON HOUSING
IN THE HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITYTAKE NOTICE THAT The Executive Panel on Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality did, on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 recommend approval the following application:
Application by Clayton Developments to redevelop the former Penhorn Mall property with a mixed-use community containing a mix of low-rise, mid-rise, and high-rise residential buildings in addition to retail uses on the lands at 535-569 Portland Street, Dartmouth.
The planning documents have been reviewed and approved by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing as per Bill No. 63 - Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act and the required notice placed in the newspaper circulating in the Municipality on June 17, 2022. The development agreement is in effect once it is filed at the Nova Scotia Registry of Deeds.
Southdale/Mount Hope
- Southdale / Mount Hope
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The Southdale/Mount Hope lands in Dartmouth are located immediately adjacent to Highway 111 (“Circumferential Highway”). The lands are designated a “Future Growth Node” under the Regional Centre Secondary Planning Strategy. A comprehensive master planning process was initiated by Regional Council on January 11, 2022. So far, several studies and three initial concept plans have been submitted for the lands. Initial community engagement focused on minimizing impacts on the wetland, new roads, parks, pathways, housing mix, and other amenities that are needed to create a complete community. Given the Special Area Status of the lands, proposed policies and development agreement requirements will be shared for public comment online before their submission to the Executive Panel on Housing for approval.
A public comment period is now open on Shape Your City until Monday, September 19, 2022. You're invited to tell us what you think of the draft policies, development agreement and the submitted plans.
View a map of the area.
Expected Units: 1,200
Status: Development of detailed planning policies and regulations.Questions, concerns, or feedback about this site? email us.
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November 9, 2022
NOTICE OF APPROVAL
EXECUTIVE PANEL ON HOUSING
IN THE HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITYTAKE NOTICE THAT the Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr did, on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 approve amendments to the Regional Centre Municipal Planning Strategy based on the recommendation of the Executive Panel on Housing, and on Tuesday October 25, 2022 the Minister approved a development agreement between Halifax Regional Municipality and A.J. Legrow to enable residential and mixed-use development in a portion of the Southdale-Mount Hope Special Planning Area.
The planning documents have been reviewed and approved by the Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister as per Bill No. 63 - Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act and the required notice was placed in the newspaper circulating in the Municipality on November 9, 2022. The development agreement is in effect once it is filed at the Nova Scotia Registry of Deeds.
View additional information related to planning applications made on these lands.
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July 15, 2022
NOTICE OF APPROVAL
EXECUTIVE PANEL ON HOUSING
IN THE HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITYTAKE NOTICE THAT The Executive Panel on Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality did, on Wednesday, June 30, 2022 recommend approval the following application:
Application by Clayton Developments to approve a development agreement to enable tree removal and earthworks within the Southdale/Mount Hope Special Planning Area in advance of a subsequent Development Agreement being applied to these properties enabling their full development into a residential community.
The planning documents have been reviewed and approved by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing as per Bill No. 63 - Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act and the required notice placed in the newspaper circulating in the Municipality on July 15, 2022. The development agreement is in effect once it is filed at the Nova Scotia Registry of Deeds.
View additional information related to planning applications made on these lands.
Bedford West 10
- Bedford West 10
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Bedford West is identified as an Urban District Growth Centre under the Regional Municipal Planning Strategy. Development of Bedford West is guided by the Bedford West Secondary Planning Strategy and is divided into 12 sub-areas. In 2021, Regional Council approved the enabling policies that guide the detailed development of Bedford West Sub Area 10. The overall size of Sub Area 10 is approximately 33 hectares (82 acres) and approximately 2,800 people are expected to live in the Sub Area.
Clayton Developments has applied to develop a portion of Bedford West Sub Area 10. The proposal is for a new residential cluster on ~29.6 acres of land within Bedford West Sub Area 10. The residential cluster will house approximately 1,455 people in five multi-unit buildings with townhouse-style units integrated into the podium of several buildings. The proposal also consists of a central amenity space for residents and 2.97 acres of public parkland.View additional information related to the planning application made on these lands.
View a map of the area.
Expected Units: 2,800
Status: Development of detailed planning policies and regulations.
Questions, concerns, or feedback about this site? email us.
Bedford West 12 and 1
- Bedford West 12 and 1
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Clayton Developments is applying to develop a new subdivision on 238 acres of land located between Hammonds Plains Road and Larry Uteck Boulevard. Clayton Developments is the major landholder and are working with 15 other property owners. The proposal is requesting amendments to applicable planning documents to support the development of a new mixed-density neighbourhood consisting of new streets and public parks, multi-unit buildings, a variety of ground-based units, and commercial and institutional uses.
View additional information related to the planning application made on these lands.View a map of the area.
Expected Units: 2,500
Status:
Port Wallace
- Port Wallace
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Port Wallace has been identified as a potential future growth area for a community to be serviced with municipal sewer and water services. A planning process for the area is being undertaken to design the community and determine servicing needs and the boundaries for services. Detailed policies and regulations will cover land uses, layout, densities, open space and other community amenities with community engagement being an important part of this process.
View the draft planning documents, watch the video and share your feedback.
View a map of the area.
Expected Units: Up to 4,900
Status: Development of detailed planning policies and regulations.Questions, concerns, or feedback about this site? email us.
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FEBRUARY 3, 2023
NOTICE OF APPROVAL
EXECUTIVE PANEL ON HOUSING
IN THE HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITYTAKE NOTICE THAT the Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr did, on Thursday, January 26, 2023, approved amendments to the Regional Municipal Planning Strategy, the Municipal Planning Strategy for Dartmouth and Cole Habrour/Westphal, and the Land Use Bylaw for Dartmouth and Cole Habrour/Westphal. On Tuesday, January 31, 2023, the Minister approved the development agreement between the Halifax Regional Municipality and applicable landowners to enable residential development to proceed within the Port Wallace Special Planning Area.
The planning documents have been reviewed and approved by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing as per Bill No. 63 - Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act and the required notice placed in the newspaper circulating in the Municipality on February 3, 2023. The development agreement is in effect once it is filed at the Nova Scotia Registry of Deeds.
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July 4, 2022
NOTICE OF APPROVAL
EXECUTIVE PANEL ON HOUSING
IN THE HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITYTAKE NOTICE THAT The Executive Panel on Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality did, on Thursday, June 16, 2022 recommend approval the following application:
Application by Clayton Developments Limited to amend the Regional Plan and apply a Development Agreement to the lands known as Port Wallace (PIDs 00249672, 00268599, 00258228, 40686966) to allow early tree removal and earthworks.
The planning documents have been reviewed and approved by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing as per Bill No. 63 - Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act and the required notice placed in the newspaper circulating in the Municipality on July 2, 2022. The development agreement is in effect once it is filed at the Nova Scotia Registry of Deeds.
View additional information related to planning applications made on these lands.
Indigo Shores
- Indigo Shores
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Phase 1 of a comprehensive secondary planning process for the Middle Sackville Urban Local Growth Centre, to allow for the remaining phases of the Indigo Shores subdivision to proceed without the restriction of a 25 lot maximum per year.
View additional information.Now that it has been approved by the Minister, the development of the Indigo shores subdivision will no longer be limited to a maximum rate of 25 lots per calendar year. The notice of approval ads by both the province and municipality can be view here.
View a map of the area.
Expected Units: 150 building lots
Status: Was presented to the Task Force in April 2022Notice of Approval:
_________________________________________________________July 8, 2022
NOTICE OF APPROVAL
EXECUTIVE PANEL ON HOUSING
IN THE HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITYTAKE NOTICE THAT The Executive Panel on Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality did, on May 11, 2022 recommend approval of the following application:
Approval of a Development Agreement to allow for the remaining phases of the Indigo Shores subdivision to proceed without the restriction of a 25-lot maximum per year.
The planning documents have been reviewed and approved by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing as per Bill No. 63 - Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act and the required notice placed in the newspaper circulating in the Municipality on July 8, 2022. The development agreement is in effect once it is filed at the Nova Scotia Registry of Deeds.
View additional information related to planning applications made on these lands.
Morris Lake Expansion
- Morris Lake Expansion
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Request by Dartmouth East Holdings to initiate a secondary planning process for a new serviced community East of CFB Shearwater/ southeast of Morris Lake, Cole Harbour/ Eastern Passage. The proposal is requesting amendments to the applicable planning document to support the development of a new mixed-density neighbourhood consisting of new streets and public parks, multi-unit buildings and a variety of ground-based units. Before a Master Plan is considered a series of studies must be completed which include a Watershed Study, Land Suitability Analysis (environmental and cultural constraints) and an Infrastructure Master Plan (Water/Wastewater/Stormwater/Transportation capacity).
Future development of this site is being considered through the Future Serviced Communities Studies.
View Additional Information.
View a map of the area.Expected Units: 3,100
Status: Study work is being undertaken to inform decision-making regarding the development of the site.
Dartmouth Crossing
- Dartmouth Crossing
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View a map of the area.
Expected Units: 4,100
Status: The planning process for this project is underway. View more information on the status and ways to provide feedback on the proposal.
Questions, concerns, or feedback about this site? email us.
Sandy Lake
- Sandy Lake
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Request by Sandy Lake Holdings (Clayton Developments) to initiate the secondary planning process for a new serviced mixed-use (residential/ commercial) community to the west of Sandy Lake, Bedford/ Hammonds Plains. The proposal is requesting amendments to applicable planning documents to support the development of a new mixed-density neighbourhood consisting of new streets and public parks, multi-unit buildings and a variety of ground-based units. Before a Master Plan is considered a series of studies must be completed which include a Watershed Study, Land Suitability Analysis (environmental and cultural constraints) and an Infrastructure Master Plan (Water/ Wastewater/ Stormwater/ Transportation capacity).
Future development of this site is being considered through the Future Serviced Communities Studies.
View a map of the area.
Expected Units: 6,o00
Status: Study work is being undertaken to inform decision-making regarding the development of the site.
Questions, concerns, or feedback about this site? email us.
Musquodoboit Harbour
- Musquodoboit Harbour
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On January 17, 2023, a 18.6 hectare (46-acre) parcel of land in Musquodoboit Harbour was designated a Special Planning Area under the Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act.
The property is designated Mixed Use (MU) under the Eastern Shore (West) Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and zoned Comprehensive Development District (CDD) under the Eastern Shore (West) Land Use By-Law (LUB). There is a policy in the Regional Plan that applies the CDD Zone to these lands to allow the consideration of a full range of land uses and is intended to protect these lands as a focal point for development in the Musquodoboit Harbour Rural Growth Centre.
View a map of the area.
Expected Units: TBD
Status: To date the Halifax Regional Municipality has yet to receive details on the proposed development or supporting documentation. Once a formal submission has been received by HRM the information will be posted to this website.