PLANAPP 2024-00911 - 5933 Prospect Road, Big Lake

Request

Application by Charles Freeman Architect to enter into a development agreement that allows for a commercial recreation use (stargazing facility) at 5933 Prospect Road, Big Lake.

Proposal

Application by Charles Freeman Architect, on behalf of the property owner, requesting to enter into a development agreement for a commercial recreation use (stargazing facility ).
The proposal will include:

• reuse of existing access plus one new access point to site from Prospect Road;
• café (and associated parking);
• observatory (Abbey Ridge Observatory) and associated parking;
• lodge (Stargazer’s Lodge) and associated parking;
• small bunkhouse observatories;
• owner’s or caretaker's residence
• rental cabins (or two RV spaces to replace one cabin);
• walking trails, decks;
• walk-in tenting sites; and
• analog research station.

The park will sit on 26 acres of coastal barrens on the west side of Prospect Road with Big Lake at the northern most part of the lands, the road defining the eastern extent and a large wetland crossing the southern end of the property. Watercourses and contiguous wetlands will be protected by a 30 metre wide buffer as visible in the revised site plan. 

Process

The application will be considered under the Development Agreement process.

Status

A public hearing will be held by North West Community Council on January 12, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at Halifax City Hall (Council Chamber), 1841 Argyle Street, Halifax, NS.

View the staff report. If you have questions about how to access the staff report email or call 902.490.4210 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, contact the Planner, Darrell Joudrey, to make the arrangements.

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; 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 3:00 p.m. on January 12, 2026. Please allow sufficient time for delivery.

If you have questions about the public hearing process, please email or call 902.490.4210 the Office of the Municipal Clerk. Should you have questions about the nature of the application itself, please email (darrell.joudrey@halifax.ca) or call the planner directly at 902.225.8630.

Enhanced security processes to access City Hall, including security screening with X-ray and metal detection, as well as sign-in with government-issued photo ID, are in place. Please allow for ample time to complete these processes before your meeting start time. Learn more by visiting halifax.ca/visitingcityhall.

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’d like, you can let us know how to say your name using simple, sound-it-out spelling. (For example: for Leila Nahirah say “Lay-ah Nah-HEE-rah”).

This notice was posted to this site on December 9, 2025 in accordance with the requirements of the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter.

Documents Submitted for Evaluation

The applicant has submitted plans and studies required by HRM staff to properly evaluate the application. Please note revised Planning Rationale and Site Plan have been added to the list below. The documents are also available for review at the Planning Applications office at 5251 Duke Street, Halifax, Suite 300. 

•    Planning rationale
•    Revised Planning Rationale March 20, 2025
•    Revised Planning Rationale October 30, 2024
•    Site plan
•    Revised Site Plan March 20, 2025
•    Revised Site Plan October 30, 2024
•    Preliminary Stormwater Management Plan
•    Traffic Impact Statement
•    Wetland Delineation