MINORREV 2024-02794 - Updates to Cultural Use Requirements in the Regional Centre

Request

Staff-initiated amendments to the Regional Centre Land Use By-law to address regulatory barriers that dictate built form and design requirements of a Cultural Use. The proposed amendments are needed to accommodate Indigenous design principles for Cultural Uses in the Downtown Halifax Zone to support the development of a new Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre (MNFC) at 1940 Gottingen Street, Halifax.  

Proposal

To support the development of this site, staff propose specific LUB amendments to accommodate the design as well as support other Cultural Uses in the DH zone.

Proposed Amendments to the Regional Centre Land Use By-Law

1. Allow the reduction of the streetwall width to a maximum of 80% for cultural uses within the Downtown Halifax (DH) Zone but outside of the Downtown Halifax Central Blocks (DHCB) that provide an at-grade open space (Section 140(3)).

This proposed amendment provides an exemption to the full streetwall requirement on any streetline for Cultural Uses in the DH zone. This provides Cultural Uses outside the Downtown Halifax Central Blocks (DHCB) Special Area that include at-grade open space an exemption to the requirement for up to 80% of the lot width along a streetline for that open space. This exemption allows the project to include an at-grade open space along Rainnie Drive important to the programming and function of the MNFC. 

2. Exempt cultural uses within the Downtown Halifax (DH) Zone from articulation for streetwalls or exterior walls that abut a front or flanking yard and that are 64.0 metres or less in width (Section 359(2).

This proposed amendment provides an exemption to streetwall articulation requirements for Cultural Uses in the DH zone, similar to an exemption that is provided for buildings in Institutional, and University and College Zones that are set back more than 40 metres from a streetline. This exemption allows for horizontal articulation of the building facing the streetline, which supports Indigenous design principles incorporated in the design of the future MNFC.

3. Exempt cultural uses within the Downtown Halifax (DH) Zone from side wall articulation requirements (Section 362(2).

This proposed amendment provides an exemption to side wall articulation requirements for Cultural Uses in the DH zone, similar to an exemption that is provided for buildings in Institutional, and University and College Zones that are set back more than 40 metres from a streetline. This exemption allows for horizontal articulation on building sidewalls, which supports Indigenous design principles incorporated in the design of the future MNFC.

Process

This application will be considered under the Land Use By-law Amendment process. 

Status

A public hearing will be held by Regional Centre Community Council on December 9, 2024 at 6 p.m. at HEMDCC Meeting Space, Main Floor Alderney Landing, 60 Alderney Drive. Dartmouth, NS. The public hearing will consider staff-initiated amendments to the Regional Centre Land Use By-law to address regulatory barriers that dictate built form and design requirements of a Cultural Use. The proposed amendments are needed to accommodate Indigenous design principles for Cultural Uses in the Downtown Halifax Zone and to support the development of a new Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre (MNFC) at 1940 Gottingen Street, Halifax.

More details are available in the staff report and online. 

All oral and written submissions will be considered at that time. Written submissions are welcomed and encouraged in advance of the hearing itself. These submissions are distributed to all Councillors and considered at the time of their decision. Written submissions may be forwarded to the Municipal Clerk by e-mail at clerks@halifax.ca; by fax, 902-490-4208; or by mail, P.O. Box 1749, Halifax, NS, B3J 3A5. Written submissions must be received by the Municipal Clerk’s Office as early as possible and not later than 3 p.m. on December 9, 2024. Please allow sufficient time for delivery.

Information on how to sign up to speak in advance is available on-line: https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/regional-council/public-hearings.

If you have questions about the public hearing process, please email or call 902.490.4210 the reach the Office of the Municipal Clerk. Should you have questions about the nature of the application itself, please email (umpheb@halifax.ca) or call the planner directly at 902.240.5128.

View the staff report. If you have questions about how to access the staff report, email or call 902.490.4210 to reach the Office of the Municipal Clerk. If the internet is unavailable to you, a paper copy of application materials can be sent to you by mail. Please contact the Planner, Brandon Umpherville, to make the arrangements. Materials can also be inspected by the public during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays, at the Planning & Development Office on the 3^rd floor of Duke Tower, 5251 Duke St, Suite 300, Halifax NS B3J 3S1.

This notice was posted to this site on NOVEMBER 20, 2024 in accordance with the requirements of the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter.