MINORREV 2024-02794 - Updates to Cultural Use Requirements in the Regional Centre

Request

Staff-initiated amendments to the Regional Centre Land Use By-law to address regulatory barriers that dictate built form and design requirements of a Cultural Use. The proposed amendments are needed to accommodate Indigenous design principles for Cultural Uses in the Downtown Halifax Zone to support the development of a new Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre (MNFC) at 1940 Gottingen Street, Halifax.  

Proposal

To support the development of this site, staff propose specific LUB amendments to accommodate the design as well as support other Cultural Uses in the DH zone.

Proposed Amendments to the Regional Centre Land Use By-Law

1. Allow the reduction of the streetwall width to a maximum of 80% for cultural uses within the Downtown Halifax (DH) Zone but outside of the Downtown Halifax Central Blocks (DHCB) that provide an at-grade open space (Section 140(3)).

This proposed amendment provides an exemption to the full streetwall requirement on any streetline for Cultural Uses in the DH zone. This provides Cultural Uses outside the Downtown Halifax Central Blocks (DHCB) Special Area that include at-grade open space an exemption to the requirement for up to 80% of the lot width along a streetline for that open space. This exemption allows the project to include an at-grade open space along Rainnie Drive important to the programming and function of the MNFC. 

1. Exempt cultural uses within the Downtown Halifax (DH) Zone from articulation for streetwalls or exterior walls that abut a front or flanking yard and that are 64.0 metres or less in width (Section 359(2).

This proposed amendment provides an exemption to streetwall articulation requirements for Cultural Uses in the DH zone, similar to an exemption that is provided for buildings in Institutional, and University and College Zones that are set back more than 40 metres from a streetline. This exemption allows for horizontal articulation of the building facing the streetline, which supports Indigenous design principles incorporated in the design of the future MNFC.

1. Exempt cultural uses within the Downtown Halifax (DH) Zone from side wall articulation requirements (Section 362(2).

This proposed amendment provides an exemption to side wall articulation requirements for Cultural Uses in the DH zone, similar to an exemption that is provided for buildings in Institutional, and University and College Zones that are set back more than 40 metres from a streetline. This exemption allows for horizontal articulation on building sidewalls, which supports Indigenous design principles incorporated in the design of the future MNFC.

Process

This application will be considered under the Land Use By-law Amendment process. 

Status

Staff initiated this case in October 2024. The staff report and recommendations will be presented to Regional Centre Community Council on November 18, 2024. Based on the decision of Council, a public hearing may be scheduled if consideration of the amendments moves forward.