<p> <em> </em></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/system/documents/attachments/3d4006969060cea363eb6e9d3132ec7af9e3023d/000/002/542/original/Dartmouth_Draft_compressed.pdf?1447440129"><img src="https://s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/ehq-production-canada/redactor_assets/assets/adbc9084be47b7795475a254b756cb6ddb1ec3d8/000/005/384/original/Capture_DD_Design_Manual.jpg?1518473995" alt="Link to Downtown Dartmouth Design Manual " width="235" height="309" style="width: 235px; height: 309px; float: none; margin: 0px;"></a></p>A draft Downtown Dartmouth Design Manual has been developed in order to enforce a general standard of building design within the commercial areas of Downtown Dartmouth. <p>The Draft currently does not include all imagery in order to expedite the draft for public consultation.  New sketches and diagrams will be part of the final package of amendments.</p><p>We look forward to your comments - they can also be sent to <a href="mailto:planhrm@halifax.ca">planhrm@halifax.ca</a>.   <img style="margin: 0px; float: none;" alt=""> </p>

<p>Nine precincts are proposed for Downtown Dartmouth, and we invite you to comment on all of them below.   </p><p>Do you have any comments about how the precincts were defined?  </p><p><click to="" enlarge=""> </click></p><p>    </p><p></p><p><a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/downtown-dartmouth-plan/documents/1570/download"><img src="https://s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/ehq-production-canada/redactor_assets/assets/a49259ebd824bec5e84dd13d6ebf86a1b16ea5b9/000/005/354/original/Precinct_Policies.jpg?1518214611" alt="Planning Policies & Precincts" style="float: none; margin: 0px;"></a></p>

<ul> <li>The heart of Downtown Dartmouth; </li> <li>Historic and reinvigorated shopping area with wide range of shops, boutiques, cafes, restaurants and services; </li> <li>Careful design guidelines ensure ample sunlight throughout the day; </li> <li>Taller buildings designed to mitigate wind impacts on pedestrians; </li> <li>3-4 storey streetwalls to maintain pedestrian scale of street; </li> <li>Commercial uses required for entire ground floor to foster pedestrian environment; </li> <li>Fine grained storefronts in new development; Major pedestrian route providing direct link to ferry terminal.</li> </ul><p>Please go the the <a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/downtown-dartmouth-plan/documents">"Library" </a>to see shadow analysis and build-out scenarios.</p><p>Your Comments? </p><p> <click to="" enlarge=""> </click></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/downtown-dartmouth-plan/documents/1571/download"><img src="https://s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/ehq-production-canada/redactor_assets/assets/2734ba93e520f46f02b83768b82105b72f98013d/000/005/368/original/Portland.jpg?1518472853" alt="Portland Street" width="168" height="235" style="width: 168px; height: 235px; float: none; margin: 0px;"></a></p>

<ul> <li>Pedestrian and bicycle friendly to complement role in Road Network; </li> <li>Provides multiple physical and visual gateways to the waterfront; </li> <li>Parking lots replaced by attractive new development, with commercial uses required at grade to foster an active pedestrian environment; </li> <li>Taller buildings designed to mitigate wind impacts on pedestrians; Major transit node to support multi-modal transit hub; Well scaled new development with stepbacks of upper floors; </li> <li>Active space between new buildings and CN line to avoid blank parkade walls; </li> <li>Townhouse forms required on side streets if no commercial space. </li> </ul><p>Please go the the <a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/downtown-dartmouth-plan/documents">"Library" </a>to see shadow analysis and build-out scenarios.</p><p>Your Comments? </p><p> <click to="" enlarge=""></click></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/downtown-dartmouth-plan/documents/1572/download"><img src="https://s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/ehq-production-canada/redactor_assets/assets/a27de0824e7ec87c5c28e3279faeec3133fa8d4e/000/005/369/original/Alderney.jpg?1518472927" alt="Precinct 2 - Alderney Dr. " style="float: none; margin: 0px;"></a></p><br><p> </p>

<ul> <li>Appealing and vibrant district with intensified pedestrian emphasis and new development on parking lots; </li> <li>Mixed use area, optional commercial at grade; </li> <li>Lower streetwalls of 3 floors; </li> <li>Transitional heights between Portland Street and Ochterloney Street; </li> <li>Careful design guidelines ensure ample sunlight hroughout the day; </li> <li>Taller buildings designed to mitigate wind impacts on pedestrians; </li> <li>Townhouse forms required if ground floor commercial not provided.</li> </ul><p>Please go the the <a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/downtown-dartmouth-plan/documents">"Library" </a>to see shadow analysis and build-out scenarios.</p><p>Your Comments? </p><p> <click to="" enlarge=""> </click></p><p>  </p><p><a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/downtown-dartmouth-plan/documents/1573/download"><img src="https://s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/ehq-production-canada/redactor_assets/assets/0460af2adade6f2168bd87d44f68f1599230080b/000/005/370/original/Queen.jpg?1518473071" alt="Precinct 3 - Queen St. " width="168" height="236" style="width: 168px; height: 236px; float: none; margin: 0px;"></a></p>

<ul> <li>Distinct heritage character retained; </li> <li>Smaller scale development and low streetwall heights to match existing 2 storey character;</li> <li>Mixed use area, optional commercial at grade; </li> <li>More setbacks and front yard landscaping ensure the greenest street; </li> <li>Transitional area between adjacent neighbourhoods and more intensive development on Queen and Portland streets; </li> <li>Major transportation corridor – pedestrian, vehicular, bicycles, transit</li> </ul><p>Please go the the <a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/downtown-dartmouth-plan/documents">"Library" </a>to see shadow analysis and build-out scenarios.</p><p>Your comments? </p><p> <click to="" enlarge=""> </click></p><p>   </p><p><a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/downtown-dartmouth-plan/documents/1574/download"><img src="https://s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/ehq-production-canada/redactor_assets/assets/059a01f92846d33187744740ea2079907cf9767a/000/005/371/original/Ocht.jpg?1518473121" alt="Precinct 4 - Ochterloney St. " width="170" height="238" style="width: 170px; height: 238px; float: none; margin: 0px;"></a></p>

<ul> <li>Primary activity area – events plaza, ferry terminal park; </li> <li>Year round interest and animation through programmed spaces, commercial uses and special  events; </li> <li>Public space and uses are the main priority; Development increases activity at pedestrian level through commercial uses that foster year round use; </li> <li>Clear visual connections to Alderney Drive; Major pedestrian and transit node; </li> <li>Careful design guidelines ensure ample sunlight throughout the day; </li> <li>Taller buildings designed to mitigate wind impacts on pedestrians; </li> <li>Linkages to West and East Waterfront areas via waterfront trails and boardwalks; </li> <li>Development that steps down to the water, with 2-3 storey height maximums near water’s edge; </li> <li>View corridors to harbour enhanced</li> </ul><p>Please go the the <a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/downtown-dartmouth-plan/documents">"Library" </a>to see shadow analysis and build-out scenarios.</p><p>Your comments? </p><p> <click to="" enlarge=""> </click></p><p></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/downtown-dartmouth-plan/documents/1575/download"><img src="https://s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/ehq-production-canada/redactor_assets/assets/de1507bde093c4a98134a90eb3aee9a2af283609/000/005/372/original/Cntrl_Water.jpg?1518473165" alt="Precinct 5 - Central Waterfront " width="170" height="237" style="width: 170px; height: 237px; float: none; margin: 0px;"></a></p>

<p>Visions for Precincts 6 - 9 recognize current or pending more detailed planning processes and unique characteristics, such as ongoing protection of industrial uses.    </p><p><b>Precinct 6 - Dartmouth Cove</b></p><p>Mixed use pedestrian-oriented community with excellent trail and bike linkages; Public access to waterfront; Some continued marine-related business uses; Taller buildings designed to mitigate wind impacts on pedestrians; View corridors to harbour enhanced; Pending implementation of Dartmouth Cove Comprehensive Plan (2012)</p><p><b>Precinct 7- King's Wharf</b></p><p>Mixed use pedestrian oriented area with major residential and commercial developments; Excellent pedestrian and bike connections to adjacent precincts; Most of water’s edge publicly accessible on waterfront promenade; Active marina and varied commercial uses create year round interest; Year round interest and animation through programmed spaces, commercial uses and special events; Taller buildings designed to mitigate wind impacts on pedestrians; Subject to specific MPS policies adopted by Regional Council in 2009 that require continued use of development agreement process</p><p><b>Precinct 8 - West Waterfront</b></p><p>Redeveloped CN yards with single track remaining; Pedestrian oriented precinct with multiple connection points to Alderney Drive, Trans Canada Trail and Macdonald Bridge bikeway; Public boardwalk and trail extending from Alderney Landing to Macdonald Bridge; New park nodes off Shore Road near<br>bridge; Limited development on harbour infill; View corridors to harbour enhanced; Master planning required before allowing any development on harbour side of rail line</p><p><b>Precinct 9 - East Waterfront</b></p><p>Continued marine-related uses at Coast Guard site, ensuring that land is protected in support of an active harbour </p><p>Your comments? </p><p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/downtown-dartmouth-plan/documents/1576/download"><img src="https://s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/ehq-production-canada/redactor_assets/assets/fdbd079817726d73a24d471aede35cfe923f7fe1/000/005/373/original/Precincts_6-9.jpg?1518473207" alt="Precincts 6 - 9 " style="float: none; margin: 0px;"></a></p><p> </p>

<ul> <li>Current Downtown Dartmouth as-of right and development agreement processes provide insufficient guidance for architectural design, landscape design, and general urban design, in order to meet the vision for Downtown Dartmouth. </li> <li>In order to support the vision for Downtown Dartmouth and proposed Character Precincts, the Downtown Dartmouth Design Manual will enforce a basic standard of design through the implementation of general design guidelines. These design guidelines give priority to people and human-scaled development by regulating architectural design, landscape design, and general urban design.  </li> <li>The Heritage Design guidelines in the Downtown Dartmouth Design Manual will support the vision for Downtown Dartmouth and Character Precincts through the implementation of design guidelines primarily for Infill or abutting Heritage Development.</li> <li>The guidelines will also be derived from lessons learned in <a href="http://www.halifax.ca/planning/documents/DowntownHalifax_ScheduleS-1DesignManual.pdf">Downtown Halifax</a>, and they will be formalized in the Downtown Dartmouth Design Manual. </li> </ul><p>Your comments? </p><p> <click to="" enlarge=""> </click></p><p>  </p><p><a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/downtown-dartmouth-plan/documents/1582/download"><img src="https://s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/ehq-production-canada/redactor_assets/assets/62d82691f3e17338798338b06114beb18f0cdf6c/000/005/365/original/General_Design.jpg?1518472687" alt="General Design Gudelines" width="170" height="234" style="width: 170px; height: 234px; float: none; margin: 0px;"></a></p><p><a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/downtown-dartmouth-plan/documents/1583/download"><img src="https://s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/ehq-production-canada/redactor_assets/assets/28ce6f2e9aa7a9316ff3b4fab4a5fedf4c534450/000/005/366/original/Heritage_Guidelines.jpg?1518472724" alt="Heritage Guidelines" style="float: none; margin: 0px;"></a></p><p>  </p><p></p>

<ul> <li>Developments in Downtown Dartmouth can apply under the as-of-right process or development agreement process. The as-of-right process is rigid, clear and predictable, but provides little design guidance. The development agreement process is relatively flexible, with unpredictable outcomes regarding heights and design. Neither process adequately supports the public’s vision for Downtown Dartmouth. </li> <li>The proposed Site Plan Approval process will bring improved predictability, design standards, and timelines to development approvals in Downtown Dartmouth. </li> <li>Site Plan Approval proceeds in two parts: By-law Review and Design Review.  </li> </ul><p>Your Comments? </p><p>  </p><p><a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/downtown-dartmouth-plan/documents/1584/download"><img src="https://s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/ehq-production-canada/redactor_assets/assets/c9c0f45fd3ddc89b454b4ac48789afe424011b85/000/005/367/original/Site_Plan.jpg?1518472800" alt="Site Plan Approval " width="168" height="236" style="width: 168px; height: 236px; float: none; margin: 0px;"></a></p> <click to="" enlarge=""> </click><p></p><p> </p>

<p>The proposed scenarios include maximum allowable heights. If density bonusing could be used, what would be your priorities for public amenities in Downtown Dartmouth?  Some options may include improvements to public spaces, public art, affordable housing and undergrounding of utilities.  </p><p> </p>