Case 24259 - Regional Centre Land Use By-law Housekeeping Amendments

Request

Halifax Regional Council initiated housekeeping amendments to the Regional Centre Land Use By-law arising out of the Centre Plan approval process.

Proposal

On October 26, 2021, Regional Council approved the Regional Centre Secondary Municipal Planning (SMPS) Strategy and Regional Centre Land Use By-law (LUB) to guide development and growth within the Regional Centre.  At that time Council also requested a supplementary report on five items identified by members of the public at the public hearing. These items along with a small number of other housekeeping amendments were discussed in the January 14, 2022 staff report considered by Regional Council at its February 8, 2022 meeting.   

The proposed housekeeping amendments to the Land Use By-Law include:

• Clarifying the separation distance above a streetwall for any portions of the same main building or any other main building on the same lot based on building typology;  
• Clarifying design requirements for corner treatments;  
• Clarifying that variable signs can be approved in certain zones if deemed to not pose any risk to public safety by the Municipal Engineer; 
• Clarifying that an incentive or bonus zoning agreement may be required but is not mandatory in developments subject to development agreements and where cash-in-lieu is provided;
• Adding a lobby use to the definition of grade-related premises;     
• Adding definitions for low-rise typology, mid-rise typology, tall mid-rise typology, and high-rise typology which were previously contained in the main part of the Land Use By-law;
• Clarifying a minimum separation distance above a streetwall height for any portions of the main building or other main building on the same lot as follows: 
  • 6.0 meters between a mid-rise typology and another mid-rise typology;
  • 10.0 meters between a mid-rise typology and a tall mid-rise typology;
  • 12.5 meters between a mid-rise typology and a high-rise typology;
  • 12.5 meters between a tall mid-rise typology and another tall mid-rise typology;  
  • 12.5 meters between a tall mid-rise typology and a high-rise typology; or
  • 25.0 meters between a high-rise typology and another high-rise typology.
• Amending “Schedule 18: Minimum Front and Flanking Setbacks” to change the minimum setback on PID 00004010 (Halifax Forum Site) from 3 meters to 1.5 meters along the Young Street and Windsor Street frontages to facilitate development of the site.   

The above amendments are housekeeping in nature and are intended to implement previous Council direction, are aligned by existing policies, and are intended to help facilitate a clearer administration of the land use by-law.    
 

Process

The application will be considered under the Land Use By-Law Amendment process, 

Status

This proposal is currently seeking feedback from the general public. Any feedback received will be part of the staff report sent to the Regional Centre Community Council for the first reading of the proposed amendments to the land use by-law.

Documents Submitted for Evaluation

• Staff Report