Centre Plan Changes After a three-day public hearing, Regional Council approved changes to planning bylaws across HRM, including in District 5. The changes are designed to make it easier to construct additional housing and come in response to the unprecedented growth that HRM has been experiencing, and the resulting housing …
Agenda, March 5 Dartmouth Waterfront The worst kept secret in Dartmouth is officially public: HRM is planning for improvements to the Dartmouth waterfront. There is a big potential opportunity here for Dartmouth and HRM as a whole. A connected Dartmouth waterfront could be a tremendous asset for both residents and …
Agenda, January 23 here Marketing Levy Fines On October 1 last year, it became mandatory for short-term rental operators to start paying the HRM Destination Marketing Levy. The marketing levy is a room tax that hotels have paid for years to fund Destination Halifax and special event grants. Basically, the …
Agenda, November 14 Harbour Infilling:The question of infilling was back at Council on Tuesday. Before us was a staff recommendation to initiate planning amendments to the Centre Plan and Halifax Mainland plans to prohibit infilling in the Northwest Arm. What wasn’t included was the same prohibition for Dartmouth Cove where …
Bill 329:The Province’s latest intrusion into municipal affairs with Bill 329 was the major item on our Council agenda. The bill is problematic as it will curtail HRM’s ability to charge fees to development and will further centre control over development in the hands of one person, the minister of …
Housing Accelerator ProgramThe main item on what was otherwise a fairly quiet Council meeting was HRM’s response to the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Program and its implications for zoning throughout HRM’s urban and suburban neighbourhoods. The federal program is meant to incentivize and support initiatives that are under the control …
Agenda, Regional Council September 12 Housing CrisisThis week’s Council meeting was dominated by the worsening homelessness crisis in HRM. It’s no surprise to anyone in the core of Dartmouth or Halifax that the number of people living outside is way up. It’s been clearly evident by the fact that almost …
Agenda August 22, Regional Council Secondary UnitsIn the fall of 2020 HRM adopted new planning rules to allow for secondary and backyard suites throughout the municipality. A secondary suite is a small secondary unit in a property’s main building, while a backyard suite is a small unit in an accessory …
Agenda, July 11 ForumThe main item on Council’s agenda last week was the future of the Halifax Forum. The Forum is in bad shape and is in need of a major project. The Forum has two ice surfaces, one of which has arena seating for 4,610, and multi-purpose community space. …
Agenda June 20 Regional CouncilAgenda June 20 Committee of the Whole (Regional Plan)Agenda May 9 Regional Council Micromobility (e-scooter regulation)Coming before Council for first reading was the new micromobility (e-scooters) bylaw. E-scooters have grown in popularity over the last few years and HRM now has businesses offering point-to-point scooter rentals. …
