MINORREV 2025-00728 – Consideration of Two Larger Multiple Unit Dwellings on Main Road, Eastern Passage

Updated:

APRIL 9, 2026

On March 31, 2026 Halifax Regional Council gave First Reading to consider the proposed amendments to the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law for Eastern Passage/Cow Bay, to allow multiple unit dwellings to a maximum of 32-units and a maximum height of 3 stories on Site #1 (PID 00374710) and to a maximum of 24-units on Site #2 (PIDs 00374728 and 00471698), Main Road, Eastern Passage and have scheduled a public hearing.

A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS APPLICATION WILL BE HELD BY HALIFAX REGIONAL COUNCIL ON APRIL 28, 2026. PLEASE SEE THE STATUS SECTION BELOW FOR MORE DETAIL.

Request

On February 11th, 2025 Regional Council directed Staff to consider an amendment to the Eastern Passage/Cow Bay Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law to allow multiple unit dwellings (i.e. apartment/condo buildings) larger than 12 units on two specific properties on Main Road, Eastern Passage.

Proposal

Subject Properties

A map showing the properties under considered can be viewed here.

  • Site #1
    • 1407 Main Rd, Eastern Passage (PID 00374710)
    • 2,741 sq. metres of lot area (29,501 sq. feet)
    • The property owner requested up to 64 units.
    • Council is considering allowing a multiple unit dwelling containing up to 32 units to a maximum of three storeys. All other existing zoning provisions would remain.
  • Site #2
    • 1509 Main Rd., Eastern Passage (PIDs 00374728 and 00471698)
    • 2582 sq. metres of lot area (27,792 sq. feet)
    • The property owner requested up to 22 units.
    • Council is considering allowing a multiple unit dwelling containing up to 24 units. The existing zoning provisions would remain, including a four-storey height limit.

Existing Planning Policy

  • Both sites are within the Community Commercial planning designation of the Eastern Passage/Cow Bay Municipal Planning Strategy. The Strategy describes a need for different housing types in the area and currently directs that small scale multiple unit dwellings be allowed as-of-right in this area (i.e. requiring permit permission only).
  • The Strategy also enables consideration of larger scale multiple unit dwellings through development agreement process. A development agreement is a site-specific legal agreement that requires approval by Community Council before permits can be issued. Lands on the harbour side of Main Road, including the two sites under consideration, are currently excluded from this option “in order to encourage retention of the traditional character of this area”.

Existing Zoning Requirements

  • Both sites are zoned C-2 by the Eastern Passage/Cow Bay Land Use Bylaw.
  • The C-2 zone currently allows multiple unit dwellings to a maximum of 12 units.
  • Multiple unit dwellings must meet several building size, siting, and site design requirements. Requirements are found in Part 4 (General Provisions) and Part 14 (C-2 Zone) of the Eastern Passage/Cow Bay Land Use Bylaw, including but not limited to:
    • Maximum Building Height: 4 storeys
    • Maximum Lot Coverage (Area Covered by Any Roofed Structure): 50%
    • Minimum distance from front property line: 4 feet
    • Minimum distance from back property line: 20 feet
    • Minimum distance from side property line: 4 feet on one side, 20 feet on the other

Proposed Changes

Regional Council will consider changes to the Eastern Passage/Cow Bay Municipal Planning and Land Use By-law to allow larger multiple unit dwellings in accordance with the existing C-2 zone requirements on Site #1 (maximum of 64 units) and Site #2 (maximum of 22 units). The buildings would get final approval through the usual permit review process, known as the 'as-of-right' process.

Process

The application will be considered under the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law Amendment process.

Status

A public hearing will be held by Halifax Regional Council on April 28, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at Halifax City Hall (Council Chamber), 1841 Argyle Street, Halifax, NS.

The Staff Report and proposed amendments are linked below. If you have questions about how to access the staff report email or call 902.490.4210 the Office of the Municipal Clerk. If the internet is unavailable to you, a paper copy of application materials can be sent to you by mail, contact the Planner, Taylor MacIntosh, to make the arrangements.

All oral and written submissions will be considered at that time. Written submissions are welcomed and encouraged in advance of the hearing itself. These submissions are distributed to all Councillors and considered at the time of their decision. Written submissions may be forwarded to the Municipal Clerk by e-mail; by fax, 902-490-4208; or by mail, P.O. Box 1749, Halifax, NS, B3J 3A5. Written submissions must be received by the Municipal Clerk’s Office as early as possible and not later than 3:00 p.m. on April 28, 2026. Please allow sufficient time for delivery.

If you have questions about the public hearing process, please email or call 902.490.4210 the Office of the Municipal Clerk. Should you have questions about the nature of the application itself, please email (macintta@halifax.ca) or call the planner directly at 902.219.0836. 

Enhanced security processes to access City Hall, including security screening with X-ray and metal detection, as well as sign-in with government-issued photo ID, are in place. Please allow for ample time to complete these processes before your meeting start time. Learn more by visiting halifax.ca/visitingcityhall.

Information on how to sign up to speak in advance is available on-line: https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/regional-council/public-hearings. If you’d like, you can let us know how to say your name using simple, sound-it-out spelling. (For example: for Leila Nahirah say “Lay-ah Nah-HEE-rah”). 

This notice was posted to this site on April 9, 2026 in accordance with the requirements of the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter.

Documents Submitted for Evaluation

Related Documents

Contact Information

For further information, please contact:

Taylor MacIntosh

Planner III

Community Planning

Telephone: 902.219.0836

Email: macintta@halifax.ca

Mailing Address

HRM Planning and Development

Planning Applications

PO Box: 1749,

Halifax,

Nova Scotia,

B3J 3A5

Attention: Taylor MacIntosh