Regional Plan Review

The Halifax Regional Municipal Planning Strategy (also called the ‘Regional Plan’) sets out a common vision, principles, and long-range, region-wide planning policies outlining where, when and how future growth and development should take place.

• Introduces the plan, provides historical and planning context, and sets out the Plan’s Vision, Guiding Principle and Principles

• Sets out the municipality’s approach to regional and community planning
• Establishes a strategic growth target directing 90 per cent of new housing growth to the Urban Area
• Establishes a program to regularly monitor population, housing and employment to inform reviews and amendments to the Plan, Community Plans, and supporting planning documents or studies
• Sets direction to develop a Strategic Growth and Infrastructure Priority Plan, to provide a framework for future long-range growth and investment
• Establishes the regional land-use structure

To read chapter 2 - click here.

• Sets out the Community Planning Framework for the Regional Centre, Suburban Areas and Rural Areas
• For the Regional Centre: provides the Vision, Core Concepts and Guiding Principles; identifies Regional Centre Growth Areas.
• For Suburban Areas: provides a Vision and Guiding Principles for Suburban Communities to be used as part of the Suburban Community Planning program; identifies Growth Areas aligned with proposed rapid transit corridors; sets out guidance for planning future serviced communities
• For Rural Areas: provides a Vision and Guiding Principles for Rural Communities to be used as part of the Rural Community Planning program; identifies Rural Centres, which will be further refined as part of the Rural Planning program; establishes intent to study rural services and mobility options as part of the Rural Community Planning program.

To read chapter 3 - click here.

• Identifies Community Infrastructure as critical for building healthy and complete communities
• Includes policies related to:
  • Parks
  • Community facilities (indoor recreation)
  • Libraries
  • Schools
  • Public safety and emergency services
  • Food security
  • Solid waste
  • Energy and telecommunications

To read chapter 4 - click here.

• Includes policy to increase housing supply through:
  • Opportunities to build a diverse range of housing types
  • Encouraging gentle density and missing middle housing
  • Adaptive reuse of underutilized buildings
  • Reducing parking requirements
• Includes policy to increase housing affordability through:
  • Exploring initiatives such as inclusionary zoning and no net loss/rental replacement
  • Incentive or bonus zoning
  • Regulating short-term rentals
  • Partnering with other levels of government, non-profit and private sector housing providers

To read chapter 5 - click here.

• Updates environmental policy to reflect the Halifax Green Network Plan and HalifACT
• Includes policy to protect open space and promote landscape connectivity, including: urban forests; natural/ wildlife corridors; naturalization
• Includes policy to protect water resources through:
  • Establishing intent to develop a watershed management framework
  • Setting parameters for watershed studies and lake water quality monitoring
  • Increasing required buffer distances around watercourses and wetlands
• Directs the municipality to pursue resilient infrastructure, including stormwater management using green infrastructure and to address flooding and erosion control
• Includes policy related to coastal protection with a focus on mitigating coastal risk, including requirements for coastal setbacks and limiting development on islands and undersized coastal lots
• Includes policy supporting HalifACT actions related to renewable energy

To read chapter 6 - click here.

• Updates policy to reflect the Integrated Mobility Plan
• Identifies strategic mobility corridors
• Establishes the Urban Transit Service Boundary
• Updates mode share targets
• Directs future updates to the Moving Forward Together Plan and Active Transportation Plan
• Directs the municipality to collaborate with the Joint Regional Transportation Agency on a future Regional Transportation Plan

To read chapter 7 - click here.

• Updates economic policy to reflect People Planet Prosperity, Halifax’s Inclusive Economic Strategy 2022-27, and the African Nova Scotian Road to Economic Prosperity action plan
• Includes policy to support African Nova Scotian community-action planning
• Includes policy to support subdivision of lots in areas designated under the Land Titles Clarification Act, to ensure African Nova Scotian residents can establish legal title to their lands
• Supports collaboration with institutional partners including post-secondary institutions, Department of National Defence, Halifax Stanfield International Airport, and the Halifax Port Authority
• Establishes region-wide policy to protect industrial employment lands
• Establishes the Halifax Harbour sub-designation and policy related to harbour-related land uses
• Directs consideration for rural employment lands as part of the Community Planning program
• Includes policy to support the Integrated Tourism Master Plan and rural tourism

To read chapter 8 - click here.

• Updates culture and heritage policies to reflect the forthcoming Sharing Our Stories: Culture & Heritage Priority Plan.
• Includes policies in support of reconciliation with Mi’kmaq and Indigenous communities
• Includes policies to support African Nova Scotian community planning, as well as community-led approach to supporting planning efforts for other traditionally under-represented groups
• Includes comprehensive policies regarding the protection of heritage resources, including but not limited to:
  • The Municipal Heritage Registry
  • Heritage conservation districts
  • Heritage development agreements
  • Cultural landscapes

To read chapter 9 - click here.

• Includes a range of technical policies to support implementation of the Plan and sets a standard for community engagement
• Outlines the range of planning tools used
• Includes policies related to the Regional Subdivision By-law, including growth management policies which limit subdivision outside the Urban Service Area and parkland dedication
• Includes policies related to water and wastewater services in both urban and rural areas, including establishing the Urban Service Area boundary
• Sets requirements for monitoring of key performance indicators and reviews of the Plan

To read chapter 10 - click here.

• Map 1 - Regional Plan Geographies
• Map 2 - Regional Land Use Structure
• Map 3 - Urban Growth Areas
• Map 4 - Rural Centres
• Map 5 - Parks and Community Facilities
• Map 5A - BMBCL Partnership Lands
• Map 6 - Wildlife Corridors
• Map 7 - Regional and Community Links
• Map 8 - Source Water Protection Areas

A quick snapshot of the Regional Plan ideas can be found here:

• Key Ideas

The Background to the Themes and Direction Document can be found here:

• Background

A link to the full Themes and Direction Document can be found here:

• Full document

Theme 1: Considering the regional scale first

The Regional Plan sets out a common vision and long-range, region-wide planning Policies outlining where, when, and how future growth and development should take place between now and 2031. The Municipality’s physical geographic constraints, existing and planned water and wastewater infrastructure, transit boundary, as well as the location of employment and community facilities significantly impacts where and how the region grows’. A full description of Theme Area 1 and the suggested policy actions can be found here:

• Theme 1: Background and policy directions

Theme 2: Building healthier and more complete communities

The Regional Plan provides guidance for the development of communities across the municipality to build healthier, more complete communities by setting policy direction at a regional scale to strengthen our citizens’ quality of life by maximizing our municipal services and amenities. A full description of Theme Area 2 and the suggested policy actions can be found here:

• Theme 2: Background and policy directions

Issue papers

• Rural Issue Paper May 2021
• Suburban Issue Paper May 2021

Additional materials

• Regional Centre Secondary Plan Package A
• Regional Centre Secondary Plan Package B

Theme 3: Reconsidering employment and industrial lands

The Halifax Regional Municipality is the economic hub of Atlantic Canada. The Regional Plan highlights important components of regional economic development, including protection for industrial lands, business parks, the Halifax Harbour and other coastal areas, as well as support for the rural economy. A full description of Theme Area 3 and the suggested policy actions can be found here:

• Theme 3: Background and policy directions

Theme 4: Transforming how we move in our region

The Regional Plan supports safe, sustainable and accessible travel options to move conveniently throughout the region. A regional transportation system links people and communities with each other and with goods, services and opportunities in an environmentally and fiscally sustainable way. The municipality recognizes that transportation and land-use planning are inseparable and the decision-making process for both must be integrated. A full description of Theme Area 4 and the suggested policy actions can be found here:

• Theme 4: Background and policy directions

Additional materials

Theme 5: Social planning for community well-being

Since the last Regional Plan review Regional Council has played an increasing role in socially minded policies and directives including:

• Endorsing: the Housing Needs Assessment, Halifax Food Action Plan, Anti-Poverty Solutions Strategy
• Creating: the Office of Diversity & Inclusion and increasing presence of the African Nova Scotia Integrated Affairs Office
• Partnering: with Mobile Food Market, Halifax Food Policy Alliance, Housing and Homelessness Partnership
• Collaborating: with not-for-profits and the Province

A full description of Theme Area 5 and the suggested policy actions can be found here:

• Theme 5: Background and policy directions

Theme 6: Celebrating culture and heritage

The Halifax Regional Municipality is home to diverse cultures and histories that are expressed in many ways. Tangible assets, such as heritage buildings and sites, speak to the evolution of the community over time, while intangible assets, such as events, provide an opportunity to preserve and foster living traditions. Sharing Our Stories will provide a regional approach to the preservation of these heritage and cultural resources, which will be reflected in the Regional Plan review. A full description of Theme Area 6 and the suggested policy actions can be found here:

• Theme 6: Background and policy directions

Additional materials

• Sharing Our Stories

Theme 7: Integrating community facilities and parks

Parks and community facilities are an essential component of complete communities that support healthy lifestyles for all residents. Currently in the Halifax region there are more than 900 municipal parks, including playgrounds, sport courts, playing fields and other specialized amenities, as well as over 65 indoor community facilities, ranging from small community centres to large complexes with pools, arena and gymnasiums. Facilities provided by other organizations, such as schools and emergency facilities, also play an important role in the livability of our communities and should be considered when planning for development.

A full description of Theme Area 7 and the suggested policy actions can be found here:

• Theme 7: Background and policy directions

Additional materials:

Theme 8: Enhancing environmental protection

Open spaces and waterbodies are vital to maintaining a healthy, sustainable and desirable region. They provide important habitats and ecosystems, support economic activity, shape communities, provide opportunities for recreation, and reflect local culture and history. Momentum is building for work taking place in approved priority plans:

• Halifax Green Network Plan: identifies ways the municipality can better identify and protect landscapes
• HalifACT: supports the preservation of open spaces and waterbodies as part of efforts to reduce emissions and help communities adapt to climate change.

A full description of Theme Area 8 and the suggested policy actions can be found here:

• Theme 8: Background and policy directions

Issue paper:

• Open Space Issue Paper

Theme 9: Leading through action on climate

Climate change is real, urgent, complex, and a global crisis. With the changing climate, we face hazards to health, economic growth, safety and the natural world. In HRM, Regional Council has declared a climate emergency and, guided by HalifACT the Municipality is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support communities’ resiliency to the effects of climate change. A full description of Theme Area 9 and the suggested policy actions can be found here:

• Theme 9: Background and policy directions

Additional materials

Theme 10: Imagining the Halifax Regional Municipality into 2050 and beyond

As 2020 has taught us, society can change dramatically over a short time. However, with long-range planning, the municipality can be better prepared to handle an uncertain future, and to some extent, even direct what the future can look like based on a shared vision. Now that this plan is nearing the end of its lifespan (2031), it is time to begin thinking about what we want the Halifax region to look like further into the future. A full description of Theme Area 10 and the suggested policy actions can be found here:

• Theme 10: Background and policy directions

Theme 11: Assessing the impacts of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented global public health crisis that has significant implications for the social and economic well-being of our region. The municipality is facing great uncertainty, and the Regional Plan can help to guide the recovery and response. A full description of Theme Area 11 and the suggested policy actions can be found here:

• Theme 11: Background and policy directions

• Partnership Response to COVID