A Plan for Vibrant Streets and Neighbourhoods

Centre Plan Phase 1

 

Centre Plan Background & Overview

The Centre Plan is phase 3 of HRMbyDesign, following the establishment of the overall Regional Centre Vision and Principles in phase 1, and the creation of the Downtown Halifax Plan in phase 2. Taken as a whole the three phases present a 25-year vision of a dense, livable and prosperous Regional Centre that will create sustained economic and environmental benefits across the entire municipality.

• HRMbyDesign Phase 1 - Regional Centre Vision and Principles
• HRMbyDesign Phase 2 - Downtown Halifax Plan
• HRMbyDesign Phase 3- The Centre Plan

In October 2011, Halifax Regional Council initiated the Centre Plan and directed that a new Regional Centre Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law be delivered by 2015.This process involved a presentation to Council as well as a detailed staff report. This report initiated both the Centre Plan and the RP+5 process and contains the scope of each.

• October 4th Presentation to Council (PDF)
• October 4th Staff Report (PDF)

However the recent emergence of a number of growth opportunities and challenges has led Council to direct that "Centre Plan Phase 1" be initiated to deliver new policies for several commercial corridors in Halifax and Dartmouth in 2012. In February a subsequent presentation and staff report were produced. Here the Centre Plan Phase 1 approach to development hotspots was approved, along with the public engagement and communication strategy for both Centre Plan Phase 1 and RP+5.

• February 28th Presentation to Council (PDF)
• February 28th Staff Report (PDF)

This phase of the Centre Plan will address current growth pressures and opportunities by amending the Halifax, Dartmouth, and Downtown Dartmouth Municipal Planning Strategies and Land Use By-laws.  The new policies will protect the scale and character of existing neighbourhoods while removing barriers to well-designed and appropriately scaled development. The entire Centre Plan is scheduled for completion in 2015.

 

Public Engagement

Public Consultation Meetings

Two public consultation meetings were held in each neighbourhood.  The first meeting provided information on the approach of the Centre Plan, and on how the Centre Plan can protect and build on community’s assets. The aim was to gain input from the community on the boundary of the commercial corridors and opportunity sites in the urban areas of Halifax and Dartmouth. The second meeting proposed changes based on feedback received at the first meeting.

• Centre Plan Phase I Meeting Dates (PDF)

Meeting 1

*Neighbourhood specific displays presented at each meeting may be viewed by clicking on the neighbourhood name in the table above. Please note: the display boards are large PDF files.

Feedback from Meeting 1

Public feedback from both meetings will be available on this site. Other comments received following the first and second round of meetings will also be posted as received.

• Meeting #1 comments ( PDF)
• Written comments (PDF)

Meeting 2

*Neighbourhood specific displays presented at each meeting may be viewed by clicking on the neighbourhood name in the table above. Please n ote: the display boards are large PDF files.

Feedback from Meeting 2

Public feedback from both meetings will be available on this site. Other comments received following the first and second round of meetings will also be posted as received.

• Meeting #2 comments (PDF)
• Written comments (PDF)

Stakeholder Engagement

HRM is committed to an open and inclusive public engagement process. Community and professional organizations, institutions, the business community, diverse cultural groups and other interest groups can participate in long range planning efforts for the Centre Plan in a variety of ways:

• Public consultation sessions
• Social media tools facebook.com/PlanHRM and @PlanHRM on Twitter
• Submit a letter by email or regular mail (deadline is May 15):

           Email: PlanHRM@halifax.ca

           Mail: Halifax Regional Municipality, Regional Planning office, 2nd 

                 Floor, 40 Alderney Drive, PO Box 1749, Halifax, NS B3J 3A5

• Share information on research and best practices with the staff team
• Request to meet with staff (We will do our best to accomodate all requests subject to staff availability. All meetings will be logged in the public engagement summary report)
• Contact your local councillor

Engaging with the Development and Design Community

On April 24th members of the Centre Plan staff team met with local developers and architects. Staff presented details of the proposed Centre Plan Phase 1 model to regulating development in 11 Regional Centre corridors intended for densification and to test the economic feasibility of the model. The meeting sought to receive general feedback on the model from the architecture and development community, but not to discuss specific sites and development proposals. Read more... [from the meeting notes in PDF]

Engaging with Government

We are also actively engaging with other levels of government, including First Nation governments.

Density Bonusing Legislative Amendment

HRM has submitted a formal request for the Province to consider amending the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter to expand the use of density bonusing from downtown Halifax to the entire municipality. Read more...

Summary of Public Consultation

A report about all engagement activities and comments for Centre Plan Phase 1 will be submitted to the Community Design Advisory Committee (CDAC) and will be posted online.

Contact Us

• Twitter @PlanHRM

• Facebook (facebook.com/PlanHRM)
• Email: planhrm@halifax.ca
• Call the Message Centre: 490-8479
• Mail: Halifax Regional Municipality, Regional Planning office, 2nd Floor, 40 Alderney Drive, PO Box 1749, Halifax, NS B3J 3A5