The Halifax Regional Plan
The Halifax Regional Municipal Strategy (or the Regional Plan, for short) is HRM’s highest level planning document that sets the vision and strategy for the Municipality’s growth, from Hubbards to Ecum Secum, and everything in between. The Regional Plan we see today was first created in 2006, to guide the city into 2031. However, as the municipality grows and needs of its residents change, HRM is called to review the Plan every five years.
Right now, the Regional Plan has entered a review and is undergoing public consultation. Whether you are someone who bikes to work, hangs out at the park, drives your kids to school or hosts your annual street party, your input as a resident of the HRM is needed!
There are three primary changes needed from the Regional Plan
Allow Halifax’s Green Network, wetlands, and watercourses to guide our growth and development
HRM has rich green and blue networks surrounding our communities that are worth preserving. Currently, the needs of nature and the benefits of natural ecosystems are not prioritized when reviewing growth and development decisions.
We are asking HRM to:
> Use Halifax Green Network Plan maps to guide growth
> Adopt a 30-meter buffer for all wetlands
> Preserve and activate the remaining agricultural land in our community
> Plan to protect 3 of Halifax’s last, large wild areas: Sandy Lake – Sackville River, Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes, and the Purcell’s Cove Backlands
Use new growth to build complete communities
We envision complete communities across HRM. Currently, HRM does not require that criteria for complete communities be met before approving new developments. It is essential that HRM develop firm standards and only approve developments that will build complete communities.
We are asking HRM to:
> Develop clear criteria for growth centres (where major growth is planned to occur)
> Only allow development where it will have access to buses and active transportation and remove parking requirements for new development
> Evaluate access to nature, as an important aspect of complete communities
Make our growth make sense
Right now, HRM’s growth doesn’t make sense. Urban sprawl costs more, and we are subsidizing its costs in order to develop over valuable greenspace. Developments are infilling wetlands and building too close to the coast, leaving residents susceptible to the effects of climate change.
We are asking HRM to:
> Value ecosystem services when evaluating new growth
> Prioritize development of brownfield sites (previously developed land that isn’t currently in use) over greenfield sites (wilderness)
> Prevent building too close to the coast and ensure coastal setbacks are sufficient based on scientific predictions and require all development to meet them
> Reassess HRM’s infrastructure charges to ensure suburban development pays for itself
It’s time to act on and enforce the plans we already have.
As a result of the directives from the Regional Plan, HRM has created and adopted several new plans in an effort to achieve its goals. These plans have introduced many initiatives intended to promote sustainable development and protect important ecological features. While these initiatives direct council, the majority of them are yet to be ingrained in enforceable policy. The current Regional Plan Review will include revised policies based on HRM’s priority plans. Three key plans include:
The IMP is a plan to increase active transportation and public transit use by integrating mobility goals with land uses.
Click here to learn about the IMP!
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The HGNP outlines a path to protect Halifax’s green spaces and links together wildlife habitat.
Click here to learn about the HGNP!
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HalifACT is HRM’s community energy & climate action plan. It holds a long-term climate change adaptation plan that focuses on reducing emissions.
Click here to learn about HalifACT!
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Take Action
Maybe we can help. We partnered with the Ecology Action Centre to let you know our top priorities for the first phase of the Regional Plan review.
Take Halifax’s ‘Shape Your City’ survey.
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Resources and information on the Regional Plan were developed in collaboration with the help of the Ecology Action Centre’s Urban Development Advocacy Team.
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