MPSA-2023-00851 (Former Case 23600) - 41 Cowie Hill Road, Halifax

Request

ZZap Consulting Inc., on behalf of Hazelview Investments, is applying to amend the Halifax Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and the Halifax Mainland Land Use By-law (LUB) to construct 2 new multi-unit dwellings on 41 Cowie Hill Road, Halifax: 
(a) Phase 1 (Building B: 8-storey, 63 units); and 
(b) Phase 2 (Building A: 11-storey, 117 units).

Proposal

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The applicant wishes to construct two (2) new multi-unit residential buildings on the subject site. The major aspects of the proposal are as follows:
•    increase the number of units permitted;
•    reduce parking requirements; and 
•    modernize requirements that impact the look and feel of the building.

The Development Plans (provided below) outline the development proposal in detail, and include information related to the location and height of the proposed buildings, parking locations, driveway access, and the applicant’s rationale and request.

Process

The application will be considered under the MPS and LUB Amendments process.

Status

Regional Council initiated the plan amendment process on May 31, 2022 following consideration of the initiation report (item 15.1.5).

A public information meeting was held on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Chocolate Lake Recreation Centre.

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On September 26, 2023, Regional Council directed the CAO to expedite amendments to planning documents to support key Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) initiatives. In collaboration with the federal and provincial governments, as part of the continued effort to support housing supply, the municipality is proposing amendments to planning documents throughout Halifax Regional Municipality.

Planning Case MPSA-2023-00851 has been incorporated into the proposed Urgent Change to Planning Documents for Housing, MINORREV-2023-01065, amendments as a Suburban Site-Specific Request SS019.  Staff’s recommendation can be found on Attachment A-7 Suburban Development Requests under Table A7-1, to see the staff report visit halifax.ca/city-hall/agendas-meetings-reports.

Halifax Regional Council will hold a Public Hearing on the proposed Urgent Change to Planning Documents for Housing, MINORREV-2023-01065, amendments, starting on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., and will continue on additional dates as necessary, in Halifax City Hall (Council Chamber), 1841 Argyle Street, Halifax, NS. If you received this letter, you have been identified as either an owner or a resident in the area of the proposed project site for MPSA-2023-00851, 41 Cowie Hill Road, in the Mainland South Area.

You may speak in person or virtually, and/or submit written comments. Pre-registration by 4:30 p.m. on Friday May 17, 2024 is required for virtual speakers by email clerks@halifax.ca or phone 902-490-4210. Due to the potential number of speakers, all speakers, are encouraged to register as early as possible. To speak you must register no later than May 21, 2024, by the end of the meeting.

Written comments must be received by the Municipal Clerks Office by 10:00 am. on May 21, 2024 and may be forwarded to the Municipal Clerk by email, clerks@halifax.ca, by mail, P.O. Box 1749, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J 3A5; by fax, 902-490-4208. For more information visit halifax.ca/city-hall/reg.ional-council/public-hearings.

For more information about the Urgent Change to Planning Documents for Housing, including factsheets about the proposed changes, visit halifax.ca/haf or to see the staff report visit halifax.ca/city-hall/agendas-meetings-reports. If you have any further questions, please email haf@halifax.ca or visit the Planning & Development office at the 3rd floor of Duke Tower, 5251 Duke Street, Halifax, NS during office hours Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

All visitors to Halifax City Hall must sign-in at the security desk, located at the main (Grand Parade) entrance. Visitors who use the accessible entrance on Argyle Street will be escorted to the security desk by staff. All visitors must present federal, provincial, or territorial government-issued photo ID to security, or show a combination of two pieces of government-issued IDs or documentations (e.g. bills) as long as they both include their first and last name.

This notice was posted to this site on May 7, 2024, in accordance with the requirements of the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter.

Documents Submitted for Evaluation

The applicant has submitted plans and studies required by HRM staff to properly evaluate the application. Additional studies may be requested during the review process. The relevant documents are linked below.