Updated:
Request
Application by Charles Freeman Architect to enter into a development agreement that allows for a commercial recreation use (stargazing facility) at 5933 Prospect Road, Big Lake.
Proposal
Application by Charles Freeman Architect, on behalf of the property owner, requesting to enter into a development agreement for a commercial recreation use (stargazing facility ).
The proposal will include:
- reuse of existing access plus one new access point to site from Prospect Road;
- café (and associated parking);
- observatory (Abbey Ridge Observatory) and associated parking;
- lodge (Stargazer’s Lodge) and associated parking;
- small bunkhouse observatories;
- owner’s or caretaker's residence
- rental cabins;
- walk-in tenting sites; and
- analog research station.
The park will sit on 26 acres of coastal barrens on the west side of Prospect Road with Big Lake at the northern most part of the lands, the road defining the eastern extent and a large wetland crossing the southern end of the property. Watercourses and contiguous wetlands will be protected by a 30 metre wide buffer as visible in the revised site plan.
Process
The application will be considered under the Development Agreement process.
Status
The application has now entered the public engagement stage of the planning application process. A notification sign has been mounted on the subject site briefly describing the application. Presently a notification letter with a brief survey questionnaire and a fact sheet will be mailed to nearby surrounding properties.
Documents Submitted for Evaluation
The applicant has submitted plans and studies required by HRM staff to properly evaluate the application. Please note revised Planning Rationale and Site Plan have been added to the list below. The documents are also available for review at the Planning Applications office at 5251 Duke Street, Halifax, Suite 300.
• Planning rationale
• Revised Planning Rationale October 30, 2024
• Site plan
• Revised Site Plan October 30, 2024
• Preliminary Stormwater Management Plan
• Traffic Impact Statement
• Wetland Delineation
Contact Information
For further information, please contact:
Mailing Address
HRM Planning and Development
PO Box: 1749,
Halifax,
Nova Scotia,
B3J 3A5
Attention: Darrell Joudrey