The Downtown Halifax Plan Review Project has been combined with the ongoing Centre Plan Project, which includes the creation of a new Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law for the Regional Centre, the most urban area of the Municipality. For information relating to Downtown Halifax, please visit the Centre Plan Project.

The 2009 Downtown Halifax Plan has brought change, growth, and better design to our commercial core. As we continue to update the Downtown Halifax Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy and the Downtown Halifax Land Use By-law, help us celebrate the success of the Plan and help us make it even better.

Thanks to everyone who participated in our Open House at the Downtown Halifax Business Commission in late February to talk about the Downtown Halifax Plan. We appreciate your input as we work to improve and evolve the existing Plan.

Project Background:

The Downtown Halifax Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy was adopted in 2009 following an extensive public consultation process, known as HRMbyDesign. The Plan has brought growth, change and better urban design control to downtown Halifax, and has also won national awards. The intent of this review is to assess the Downtown Plan, respond to any trends and development opportunities within the Plan Area, acknowledge the efforts of many stakeholder groups in revitalizing the downtown, and invite a conversation on how the Plan can become even more effective and relevant to the future of Halifax as a Capital City.

The Plan requires the municipality to adopt an amendment process that provides for regular review and evaluation of policies, regulations and growth targets contained in the Plan. Staff monitoring has shown the Plan remains strong and only minor changes are required at this time to improve implementation and ensure consistency with the revised 2014 Regional Plan.

Downtown Halifax Plan & Regional Centre Plan: The 2006 Regional Plan provided policy direction for the development of the Downtown Halifax Plan, and the 2014 amendments to the Regional Plan provided policy direction for the Regional Centre Plan. While the Centre Plan Project is also progressing at this time, the Downtown Halifax Plan will continue to apply, and eventually become a component of the larger Centre Plan.

Feedback:

Thanks to everyone who provided feedback on the Plan. Your input is much appreciated. The online survey is now closed.

Questions?

Any questions can be directed to the project manager:

Dali Salih
Planner II
Regional Planning | Planning & Development
T: 902.490.1948
E: salihd@halifax.ca
E (General): planhrm@halifax.ca

Updates

Please post your comments on the revised Draft Design Manual here

<p><br></p> <p>The revised draft Design Manual is now available for public comment until Dec. 14.  </p> <p>The draft Design Manual has a new layout and formatting, but 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>Comments can also be sent to <a href="mailto:planhrm@halifax.ca">planhrm@halifax.ca</a> </p><p><a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/system/documents/attachments/d285819a63c2f0248fd3a95ddea7b98b9ae8a804/000/002/540/original/Halifax_Draft_compressed.pdf?1447439909"><img src="https://s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/ehq-production-canada/redactor_assets/assets/9984cabacf53de40b02c4d479b8338d24df6c248/000/005/383/original/Capture_DHalifax_Cover.jpg?1518473944" alt="Downtown Halifax Draft Design Manual " width="233" height="304" style="width: 233px; height: 304px; float: none; margin: 0px;"></a></p><br><p></p><p></p> <p>The major changes are summarized below with reference to the original 2008 Design Manual: </p> <p> </p><strong> </strong><strong> </strong><strong> </strong><table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p><strong>Part 1 (Introduction)</strong> </p> <p>Part 1 contains a new Section 1.3 describing the approach to be used in interpreting the Design Manual</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Part 2 (Downtown Precinct Guidelines)</strong></p> <p>Part 2 has not been carried forward in the draft of the revised Design Manual. These guidelines were more descriptive and policy-oriented in nature, and will now be included in the Downtown Halifax Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Part 3 (General Design Guidelines)</strong> </p> <p>Part 3 is now Part 2 under the draft of the revised Design Manual. </p> <p>Lighting and signs can now be found in their own respective sections (Section 2.7 Lighting and Sections 2.8 Signs), instead of being grouped under Section 2.5 Parking, Services and Utilities. </p> <p>A new section containing design guidelines for landscaping is being introduced (Section 2.6). </p> <p>Section 3.6 (Site Plan Variances) is now Part 4 of the draft document (Site Plan Variations). This new part includes substantial text changes.</p> <p><br></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p><strong>Part 4 (Heritage Design Guidelines)</strong></p> <p>Part 4 is now Part 3 under the revised Design Manual with only minor text changes.<span>  </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Part 5 (Sustainability Guidelines)</strong></p> <p>Part 5 has not been carried forward in the draft of the revised Design Manual. </p> <p>Some of the guidelines related to sustainable sites have been moved to Part 2 (General Design Guidelines) of the draft of the revised Design Manual. </p> <p>The rest of the guidelines have not been carried forward as they are either already covered under existing or proposed municipal by-laws and Provincial or Federal legislation, or cannot be enforced. </p> <p><strong><br></strong></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <strong> </strong><p><strong>Part 6 (Concepts Used in this Manual)</strong> </p> <p>Part 6 has been incorporated in the Glossary of the draft of the revised Design Manual. </p> <p>Some new definitions have been added to the Glossary, while others have been removed. A revamped set of images (still in progress) will accompany this new Glossary.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><br></p>
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What do you think are the key successes of the Downtown Halifax Plan?

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Are there any challenges with the Downtown Halifax Plan?

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What do you think of the proposed changes? Are they relevant and helpful?

<p></p><div><span>Changes to the Land Use By-Law are proposed in a number of areas as (see <a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/downtownplanreview/documents">document</a> library<p>and staff <a href="http://shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/downtownplanreview/documents/2258/download">presentation</a>) </p></span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div> <span>•</span>Process Improvements</div> <div> <span>•</span>Design Review Committee</div> <div> <span>•</span>Built Form Requirements</div> <div> <span>•</span>Waterfront View Corridors</div> <div> <span>•</span>Incentive/Bonus Zoning</div> <div> <span>•</span>Heritage</div> <div> <span>•</span>Urban Agriculture</div> <div> <span>•</span>Landscaping</div> <div> <span>•</span>Signage</div> <p><br></p>
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What are the most important public amenities that you would like to see Downtown?

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Quick Poll

What is your primary interest in Halifax Downtown?

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Total Votes: 142