Case 24482 - Parking Requirements for Community Centres and Recreation Facilities in Planning District 5 (Chebucto Peninsula)

Request

On July 19, 2022 the Halifax and West Community Council initiated an amendment to the Planning District 5 (Chebucto Peninsula) Land Use By-Law to review the parking requirements for community centres and recreation facilities.

Proposal

The existing parking requirements for community centres and recreation facilities under the Land Use By-Law for Planning District 5 require 1 parking space for every 100 square feet of floor area as an institutional use, which results in significant amount of parking, even for smaller recreation facilities, and often well beyond the amount of parking than what is needed by the facility. 

The proposed land use by-law amendment will consider a reduction in the amount of required parking for community centres and halls and recreation uses from a minimum of 1 space for every 100 square feet of floor area, to a minimum of 1 space for every 500 square feet of floor area. The proposed minimum amount of required parking could be exceeded if desired.

In 2008, the municipality adopted a Regional Parking Strategy which found that municipal parking standards, for most uses, were the highest of the 12 municipal jurisdictions studied. The parking standards are particularly high in the former Halifax County areas. One of the recommendations in the Regional Parking Strategy is to reduce minimum parking standards. Similarly, the Integrated Mobility Plan (IMP) recommends that Land Use By-laws be amended to reduce parking requirements. These documents will be considered in the current review in addition to community context.   
 

Process

The application will be considered under the Land Use By-Law Amendment process.

Status

March 1, 2023
NOTICE OF APPROVAL
HALIFAX AND WEST COMMUNITY COUNCIL

TAKE NOTICE THAT Halifax and West Community Council did, on February 28, 2023 approve the following application:

Any aggrieved person, the Provincial Director of Planning, or the Council of any adjoining municipality may, within fourteen days of the publishing of this notice, appeal to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (902-424-4448) in accordance with the provisions of the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter. 

This notice was posted to this site on March 1, 2023 in accordance with the requirements of the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter. 

 Should you have questions about the nature of the application itself, please contact the planner, Mark Inness at innessm@halifax.ca or 902.240.8525. View the staff report. 

Documents Submitted for Evaluation

Jan. 11, 2023 staff report