PLPROJ-2024-01075 – Dartmouth Cove, Dartmouth

Proposal

Municipal project to consider amendments to the Regional Centre Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy and the Regional Centre Land Use By-law to restrict water lot development and infilling in Dartmouth Cove, Dartmouth. 

Background

Dartmouth Cove is part of the Halifax Harbour and contains 9 water lots that total a combined area of 4.52 hectares. These water lots existed prior to Confederation in 1867 and can typically be infilled with various natural materials to become land if proper federal approvals are obtained. Authority over the infilling of water lots in the Halifax Harbour falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government through Transport Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Issues relating to the infill of water lots along Dartmouth Cove have been the subject of concern for both Council and the public. These concerns are generally as follows:

• the loss of harbour views along the Trans Canada Trail;
• the loss of a natural asset;
• impacts on navigation;
• an increase in truck traffic during infilling activities; and
• potentially negative environmental impacts.

The Minister of Transport has expressed a willingness to cooperate in giving the Municipality a limited jurisdiction to regulate the infilling of water lots in Dartmouth Cove. The Municipality already has jurisdiction to manage the use and the development of water lots once they have been infilled.

Proposal Details

The Municipality is considering amending the Regional Centre Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy and the Regional Centre Land Use By-law to prohibit most water lot infilling activities in Dartmouth Cove.

Key Considerations Under Review

1.    Potentially limiting infilling activities in Dartmouth Cove to public uses and limited shoreline protection.

2.   Potentially requiring a development permit for any infilling activity in Dartmouth Cove.

3.   Potentially designating and zoning water lots in Dartmouth Cove as “Water Access”. This would prevent water lots from taking on the abutting zone if infilled. The Water Access (WA) Zone currently limits the use of infilled water lots to the following uses:

• boating club use;
• conservation use;
• park use;
• water access structure use;
• historic sites or monument use;
• temporary construction use; and
• utility use.

Process

The planning project will be considered under the MPS and LUB Amendment Process.

Status

Halifax Regional Council initiated this project on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. The initiation report can be viewed here.

Due to the ongoing labour disruption at Canada Post, a notification mailout to impacted/surrounding property owners and residents is currently not possible. Once the strike at Canada Post ends, planning staff will send out a mailout to impacted/surrounding property owners and residents to notify them about this project. At that time, this website will also be updated to indicate the closure date for the public engagement period.