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Middle Sackville Master Planning Process

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Current Status

Please note the Margeson Drive Master Plan process has been put on hold until further notice pending strategic direction from the Regional Plan review.

Project Description
A comprehensive master planning process was initiated by Regional Council on December 4, 2018, for the Middle Sackville Urban Local Growth Centre on lands surrounding the Highway 101 – Margeson Drive interchange in Middle Sackville. View the staff initiation report. This exercise would result in the creation of planning policies and regulations for the study area that would allow mixed residential, commercial, institutional, and recreational uses in a comprehensive fashion.

The proposed study area comprises of 7 parcels totalling 59 hectares (146 acres). The master planning project would consider a water service extension and what (if any) upgrades to existing infrastructure may be required including upgrades to the Highway 101 – Margeson Drive interchange and pedestrian linkages. The conceptual proposal for the Middle Sackville Master Plan is as follows:

The lands subject to the Middle Sackville Urban Local Growth Centre Study Area are owned by various landowners. Several internal and external stakeholders will be involved throughout the planning process including the following:

  • Halifax Regional Municipality (various departments including Planning and Development, Development Engineering and Traffic Services, Real Estate, Parks and Recreation, Transit and Fire Services)
  • Halifax Water
  • Nova Scotia Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
  • Nova Scotia Environment
  • Armco Capital Inc.
  • Cobequid Cultural Society
  • North West Planning Advisory Committee
  • Middle Sackville Master Plan Public Participation Committee (to be established)

The Middle Sackville Master Plan project will be divided into 3 phases as follows. A staff report with recommended planning policies and regulations will be brought to Council for each phase, beginning with Phase #1.

  • Phase #1 is focused on lifting the growth control policies on the remaining lands of the Indigo Shores subdivision, north of McCabe Lake (Parcel 7).
  • Phase #2 is to enable a new Halifax Transit Park and Ride terminal and a cultural centre proposed by the Cobequid Cultural Society (Parcel 5).
  • Phase #3 is to consider a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational uses on the remaining lands of the master plan study area (Parcels, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6).


Planning Process
The Regional Plan identifies Middle Sackville as an Urban Local Growth Centre. This means the Regional Plan enables a comprehensive master planning process to change policies and regulations under the local community plans (Sackville and Beaver Bank, Hammonds Plains and Upper Sackville plan areas) to support a mix of low and medium density housing, walkable streets, active transportation routes and quality transit connections. Through this process, amendments may be made to the following planning documents:

  • Regional Municipal Planning Strategy (Regional Plan)
  • Regional Subdivision By-law
  • Sackville Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law
  • Beaver Bank, Hammonds Plains and Upper Sackville Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law


Community Vision
The master planning process involves developing a community vision and creating new policies and regulations that generally support the community vision. A community visioning exercise was completed in 2011 for the Middle Sackville Urban Local Growth Centre. The community identified desired features for the area to provide for a complete community including the following:

  • recreational opportunities;
  • an outdoor public gathering space;
  • a cultural centre;
  • a commercial centre;
  • a variety of housing types; and,
  • seniors housing.

View the Community Vision report.


Public Engagement
A virtual Public Information Meeting was conducted regarding the Margeson Drive Master Plan – Phase #1 on Wednesday, August 18, 2021. View a recording of the meeting.

The public is invited to participate in the master planning process in various ways. Feedback may be provided through participation in public information meetings, contacting the municipal planner Shayne Vipond, surveys and other tools that will become available on this website. All questions and comments about the project are welcome.

Current Status

Please note the Margeson Drive Master Plan process has been put on hold until further notice pending strategic direction from the Regional Plan review.

Project Description
A comprehensive master planning process was initiated by Regional Council on December 4, 2018, for the Middle Sackville Urban Local Growth Centre on lands surrounding the Highway 101 – Margeson Drive interchange in Middle Sackville. View the staff initiation report. This exercise would result in the creation of planning policies and regulations for the study area that would allow mixed residential, commercial, institutional, and recreational uses in a comprehensive fashion.

The proposed study area comprises of 7 parcels totalling 59 hectares (146 acres). The master planning project would consider a water service extension and what (if any) upgrades to existing infrastructure may be required including upgrades to the Highway 101 – Margeson Drive interchange and pedestrian linkages. The conceptual proposal for the Middle Sackville Master Plan is as follows:

The lands subject to the Middle Sackville Urban Local Growth Centre Study Area are owned by various landowners. Several internal and external stakeholders will be involved throughout the planning process including the following:

  • Halifax Regional Municipality (various departments including Planning and Development, Development Engineering and Traffic Services, Real Estate, Parks and Recreation, Transit and Fire Services)
  • Halifax Water
  • Nova Scotia Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
  • Nova Scotia Environment
  • Armco Capital Inc.
  • Cobequid Cultural Society
  • North West Planning Advisory Committee
  • Middle Sackville Master Plan Public Participation Committee (to be established)

The Middle Sackville Master Plan project will be divided into 3 phases as follows. A staff report with recommended planning policies and regulations will be brought to Council for each phase, beginning with Phase #1.

  • Phase #1 is focused on lifting the growth control policies on the remaining lands of the Indigo Shores subdivision, north of McCabe Lake (Parcel 7).
  • Phase #2 is to enable a new Halifax Transit Park and Ride terminal and a cultural centre proposed by the Cobequid Cultural Society (Parcel 5).
  • Phase #3 is to consider a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational uses on the remaining lands of the master plan study area (Parcels, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6).


Planning Process
The Regional Plan identifies Middle Sackville as an Urban Local Growth Centre. This means the Regional Plan enables a comprehensive master planning process to change policies and regulations under the local community plans (Sackville and Beaver Bank, Hammonds Plains and Upper Sackville plan areas) to support a mix of low and medium density housing, walkable streets, active transportation routes and quality transit connections. Through this process, amendments may be made to the following planning documents:

  • Regional Municipal Planning Strategy (Regional Plan)
  • Regional Subdivision By-law
  • Sackville Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law
  • Beaver Bank, Hammonds Plains and Upper Sackville Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law


Community Vision
The master planning process involves developing a community vision and creating new policies and regulations that generally support the community vision. A community visioning exercise was completed in 2011 for the Middle Sackville Urban Local Growth Centre. The community identified desired features for the area to provide for a complete community including the following:

  • recreational opportunities;
  • an outdoor public gathering space;
  • a cultural centre;
  • a commercial centre;
  • a variety of housing types; and,
  • seniors housing.

View the Community Vision report.


Public Engagement
A virtual Public Information Meeting was conducted regarding the Margeson Drive Master Plan – Phase #1 on Wednesday, August 18, 2021. View a recording of the meeting.

The public is invited to participate in the master planning process in various ways. Feedback may be provided through participation in public information meetings, contacting the municipal planner Shayne Vipond, surveys and other tools that will become available on this website. All questions and comments about the project are welcome.