Urban Reserve Lands - Recommended Approach | Confirmed by Regional Council on December 12, 2023.

These are requests to initiate comprehensive secondary planning or to amend the existing designation and zoning for lands designated Urban Reserve, which the Regional Plan envisioned for future serviced development after 2031.

To provide feedback on Site Specific Requests, please email regionalplan@halifax.ca and reference the case number.

Request #	Location	Request Summary	Existing Planning Policy	Regional Plan Considerations	Summary of Public Comment	Approach
C071	Lands near Kidston Lake, off Leiblin Drive and Old Sambro Road, Spryfield (PIDs 00283283; 40872053; 00315283; 00315291)	Request from Sightline Planning + Approvals (formerly KWR Approvals Inc.) on behalf of North American Real Estate to amend the current planning policy to allow for development on these lands. Number of housing units proposed by Applicant: 4,800 units	• Under the Regional Plan, the majority of the lands are designated Urban Reserve, which envisions future serviced development beyond the life of the Regional Plan (after 2031) • Lands southwest of the Leiblin Drive development are designated Rural Commuter and envisioned for industrial commercial development by the Planning District 5 MPS	• Regional Plan policy envisions these lands will be considered for serviced development after 2031. • The Halifax Green Network Plan identifies the ecological and cultural value of this area, including the International Biological Program (IBP) area south of Kidston Lake. • Future development should consider the objectives of the Integrated Mobility Plan to support transitoriented development, support the Halifax Green Network Plan’s objectives to adequately protect wilderness areas and connections, and follow policy guidance found in HalifACT2050, Sharing Our Stories and Halifax Water’s Infrastructure Master Plan.	• Many comments expressed concern about the effect of development on the Kidston Lake watershed, such as how stormwater runoff from homes and roads will affect water quality and nearby wetlands. • Comments expressed concern regarding traffic, and the existing road system is perceived as inadequate for increased traffic levels. Comments identify a need for a comprehensive transportation strategy for the broader area. • Comments highlighted that school availability may be an issue, as local schools are crowded. • Comments suggested impacts to wildlife should be considered, including birds and coyotes. • There is some interest in the proposal including moderate scale housing forms and affordable housing options.	• Planning for development in this Urban Reserve area will be considered after the completion of study and planning for future serviced communities in the Urban Settlement designation. • This is in keeping with the existing Regional Plan policy which envisioned these lands will be considered for serviced development after 2031.
C070-A	Clifton Heights subdivision, Spryfield area, Halifax (PIDs 00325985, 00330803, 00330811, and 00319871)	Request from Armco Capital Inc. to extend Urban Service Area boundary to allow for serviced development on the full extent of these lands, related to an active subdivision application (File #22930)	• Under the Regional Plan, these lands are designated Urban Settlement and located outside the Urban Service Area boundary. Policy SU-4 sets out the circumstances under which the Urban Service Area boundary can be extended. • Under the Halifax MPS/Mainland South Secondary Plan, the lands are designated RDD and zoned Holding. The lands are envisioned to be comprehensively developed when services are made available. • The Halifax Mainland policy identifies environmentally sensitive features in the area that should be protected, including tree cover, exposed bedrock, wetlands and streams and steep slopes.	• The Herring Cove Road Functional Plan has highlighted significant transportation constraints for the Herring Cove Road area as a result of existing and planned development in the area. A land use component of the Functional Plan has yet to be completed. • The Rapid Transit Strategy has proposed a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line along Herring Cove Road. The focus for significant additional development in the Spryfield area should be within the 800 metre walkshed. These lands at the edge of that area, so a lower density may be appropriate.	Traffic congestion on Herring Cove Road was identified as an issue.	• Planning for development in this Urban Reserve area will be considered after the completion of study and planning for future serviced communities in the Urban Settlement designation. • This is in keeping with the existing Regional Plan policy which envisioned these lands will be considered for serviced development after 2031.
C074	Lands to the southwest of Herring Cove Road, Spryfield Area, Halifax (PID 41182643)	Request from Stephen Adams, on behalf of the property owners, to extend the Urban Service Area boundary to allow for serviced development on the full extent of these lands.	• Under the Regional Plan, these lands are designated Urban Settlement and located outside the Urban Service Area boundary. Policy SU-4 sets out the circumstances under which the Urban Service Area boundary can be extended. • Under the Halifax MPS/Mainland South Secondary Plan, the lands are designated RDD and zoned Holding. The lands are envisioned to be comprehensively developed when services are made available. • The Halifax Mainland policy identifies environmentally sensitive features in the area that should be protected, including tree cover, exposed bedrock, wetlands and streams and steep slopes.	• The Herring Cove Road Functional Plan has highlighted significant transportation constraints for the Herring Cove Road area as a result of existing and planned development in the area. A land use component of the Functional Plan has yet to be completed. • The Rapid Transit Strategy has proposed a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line along Herring Cove Road. The focus for significant additional development in the Spryfield area should be within the 800 metre walkshed. These lands at the edge of that area, so a lower density may be appropriate.	Traffic congestion on Herring Cove Road was identified as an issue.	• Planning for development in this Urban Reserve area will be considered after the completion of study and planning for future serviced communities in the Urban Settlement designation. • This is in keeping with the existing Regional Plan policy which envisioned these lands will be considered for serviced development after 2031.
C333	Lands to the southwest of Herring Cove Road, Spryfield Area, Halifax (PIDs 00277228, 00319871, 00330811, 00325985, 00330803, 41182643, 00330795, 00277913, 41282179)	Request from Stephen Adams on behalf of the property owners to rezone lands in this area to R-2	• Under the Regional Plan, these lands are designated Urban Settlement and located outside the Urban Service Area boundary. Policy SU-4 sets out the circumstances under which the Urban Service Area boundary can be extended. • Under the Halifax MPS/Mainland South Secondary Plan, the lands are designated RDD and zoned Holding. The lands are envisioned to be comprehensively developed when services are made available. • The Halifax Mainland policy identifies environmentally sensitive features in the area that should be protected, including tree cover, exposed bedrock, wetlands and streams and steep slopes.	• The Herring Cove Road Functional Plan has highlighted significant transportation constraints for the Herring Cove Road area as a result of existing and planned development in the area. A land use component of the Functional Plan has yet to be completed. • The Rapid Transit Strategy has proposed a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line along Herring Cove Road. The focus for significant additional development in the Spryfield area should be within the 800 metre walkshed. These lands at the edge of that area, so a lower density may be appropriate.	Traffic congestion on Herring Cove Road was identified as an issue.	• Planning for development in this Urban Reserve area will be considered after the completion of study and planning for future serviced communities in the Urban Settlement designation. • This is in keeping with the existing Regional Plan policy which envisioned these lands will be considered for serviced development after 2031.
C902	Lands North of Governors Lake, Lakeside and Timberlea (PIDS 40143471; 00404632; 41222472; 40027237; 40143489; 40143521; 40026395; 40027435; 40143422; 41222621; 40025264; 40160640; 40381659; 41219106; 41224882; 40160731; 40026387; 41222480; 40026403; 40143513; 41224890; 40026726)	Request from Fathom Studios, on behalf of Parkdale Developments, to extend the serviceable boundary to allow for serviced development.	• Under the Regional Plan, these lands are designated Urban Reserve, which envisions future serviced development beyond the life of the Regional Plan (after 2031) • Portions of the lands are designated Holding Area (H) under the Halifax Mainland SMPS and Mixed Resource (MR) in the Timberlea/ Lakeside/Beechville SMPS. • The lands are zoned Urban Reserve (UR) in the Halifax Mainland and the Timberlea/ Lakeside/Beechville land use by-laws. • There are several watercourses, wetlands greater than 2000sqm on the lands, as well as a wetland of special significance on the lands. • The lands share their Northern border with the Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes (BMBCL) partnership lands.	• Regional Plan policy envisions these lands will be considered for serviced development after 2031. • Consider this request in relation to the Regional Plan's strategic growth objectives and follow policy guidance found in the Halifax Green Network Plan (HGNP). • Future development should consider the objectives of the Integrated Mobility Plan to support transit-oriented development, support the Halifax Green Network Plan, and follow policy guidance found in HalifACT2050, Sharing Our Stories and Halifax Water’s Infrastructure Master Plan.	No public comments have been received.	• Planning for development in this Urban Reserve area will be considered after the completion of study and planning for future serviced communities in the Urban Settlement designation. • This is in keeping with the existing Regional Plan policy which envisioned these lands will be considered for serviced development after 2031.