Case 24021: Cogswell District Land Use Policies

Last Updated: May 2, 2024

Project Status

Residents are invited to participate in Public Open House sessions on May 22, 2024 at the Halifax Convention Centre, Room 604. The municipality is seeking feedback on building design rules, such as building heights and community amenities, and permitted land uses, such as mixed-use, residential, commercial, affordable housing, etc.

Two sessions are planned:

Session one from 2pm to 4pm; and
Session two from 7pm to 9pm

Both sessions will follow the same program. Staff will be making a presentation outlining the planning process, followed by round table discussions with staff and members of the public.

The Cogswell District Design Plan

Project Outline

The Cogswell District is a transformational, municipal-led city-building initiative, which will convert the underutilized Cogswell Interchange into a vibrant, mixed-use neighbourhood that will reconnect Downtown Halifax to the North End. There are two main steps to the project:

1) the design and construction of streets, utilities and parks, and;

2) land use planning and building design rules.

On February 26, 2019, Regional Council approved a construction design plan for the streets, utilities and parks. Construction of the Cogswell District is currently underway and is approximately half complete. If you want to learn more about the street, utility and park designs please visit the Cogswell District webpage here.

The purpose of this process is to create building design rules and determine permitted land uses for the District.

The Cogswell District is a unique opportunity to imagine a new neighborhood in the heart of Halifax. The design of buildings can reflect elements from history or be forward-looking and modern – each block within the district can have unique features and design elements to create a unique character. The types of businesses, residential buildings and other uses will also be considered.

Additionally, Regional Council directed staff to create a strategy to support long-term affordable housing in the district. A review of planning policies and regulations on surrounding lands in the North End and Downtown Halifax, is also a part of the project. This is intended to ensure that new development in the Cogswell District and existing neighbourhoods complement one another.

What is the proposed planning process?

The planning process involves amending the Regional Centre Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy (RCSMPS, AKA “Centre Plan”) and Regional Centre Land Use By-law (RCLUB), and creating an affordable housing strategy for the Cogswell District.

Specifically, this includes consulting the public and rightsholders, creating new planning policies and regulations, engaging other orders of government for advice and potential resources for affordable housing, and seeking public feedback on the draft amendments to planning documents.

How can I participate in the planning process?

You are invited! The public will be invited to shape these elements through the consultation process.

The public and stakeholders may participate in the planning process in the following ways:

• Getting up-to-date information from this webpage;
• Sending an email to the planner for this file;
• Attending a public engagement session;
• Attending a walking/rolling tour of the district;
• Filling out an online survey on this webpage; and
• Reviewing draft planning documents when they are posted to this webpage.

The public will be informed of these public engagement opportunities through this webpage and municipal social media accounts. If you are a rightsholder group you will be contacted directly. If you are a group that would like to be involved, please contact the planner on this project at the contact information on this webpage.