Centre Plan

Update - November 2021

Centre Plan was approved by Regional Council and is in effect as of November 27, 2021. Approved planning documents are now available HERE. Thank you to all residents, stakeholders, and members of the Community Design Advisory Committee for your engagement and feedback on the Centre Plan.

The Centre Plan is a planning process for the Regional Centre, including Peninsula Halifax and Dartmouth inside the Circumferential Highway. The Centre Plan is being developed in two phases, Package A - approved by Council in September of 2019, and Package B approved by Regional Council on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 following a public hearing. With the approval of the Regional Centre Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law, all pre-existing planning documents are repealed from the Regional Centre Plan Area. The planning documents were reviewed by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and are in effect as of November 27, 2021.

Thank you to all residents, stakeholders, and members of the Community Design Advisory Committee for your engagement and feedback on the Centre Plan.

Regional Council Approves Key Changes
Between April and July 2021, a number of Community Councils and Committees of Council reviewed Centre Plan Package B and forwarded recommendations to Regional Council. On August 17, 2021 Regional Council provided direction to staff on changes to the proposed planning documents arising from the review process, including a number of site-specific zoning changes identified in the supplementary staff report. On October 5, 2021, Regional Council gave First Reading to the proposed planning documents and directed a limited number of changes and corrections. The adoption path will include the following:

• Community Design Advisory Committee - June 2, 2021
• Heritage Advisory Committee - June 23, 2021
• Harbour East – Marine Drive Community Council - June 3, 2021
• Design Review Committee - June 10, 2021
• Halifax and West Community Council - June 22, 2021
• Regional Centre Community Council - June 28, 2021
• Community Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee - July 14, 2021
• Committee of the Whole - August 17, 2021
  (View the motion - 14.2 Ratification from Committee of the Whole August 17, 2021 - Regional Centre Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law – Centre Plan Package B)
• First Reading - October 5, 2021
• Second Reading & Public Hearing - October 26, 2021

On March 2, 2021 the Community Design Advisory Committee received the "What we Heard Report", a summary of the community engagement process and feedback received on Centre Plan Package B. View the meeting agenda. The meeting was live-streamed and the full report is available.

Centre Plan – Package B – Feedback on Neighbourhoods

Three virtual public consultation meetings were held in November/early December. View a copy of the presentation or view the videos from these meetings on this page (sidebar to the right).

In December citizens used the “Places” interactive mapping tool to share local knowledge, ideas, and feedback on neighbourhoods and on Centre Plan. Thanks to everyone who dropped a pin and joined the conversation. Your input was much appreciated. Your feedback will be used to help inform changes to Centre Plan Package B and will be included in a summary of community feedback.

Here is a short video explaining what Centre Plan Package B is about.

Here is a longer video explaining key proposed policies for the Centre Plan Established Residential Areas.