Spryfield Area Of HRM Needs Zoning Review To Address Rapid Commercial, Residential Growth
HALIFAX – If a company wanted to open a brand new location in Spryfield, chances are they would be looking for a piece of property for quite some time. That’s because, according to the Spryfield Business Commission, there is simply not enough commercially zoned land in this part of Halifax anymore. The commission now wants to complete a zoning review to change some residential land into commercial or mixed-use.
“(Commercial land) was limited, to begin with,” says Bruce Holland, executive director of the Spryfield Business Commission. “And the residential development has brought more people to the area and those people are looking for spaces to operate a new business.”
“Because of that huge residential development, there are companies and business people who recognize the potential in the Spryfield area and are opening new businesses…I get calls from developers pretty much weekly, asking if I’m aware of any spaces that are up for sale.”
The area of Spryfield the Commission wants reviewed lies between Cowie Hill and Green Acres Road going along Herring Cove Road. Holland says it’s been 35 years since any type of zoning review was done in Spryfield. The Commission has approached the Halifax Regional Municipality about wanting a review.
“Spryfield has changed to some degree (in 35 years); now we have a definitive business district,” says Holland. “So, we have to look at the zoning in that business district, which incorporates some housing.”
“We understand that the municipality is willing to assign a planner to that. They’ll look at that rezoning now so that the public can have a chance to come out and say: ‘this is what we want this district to look like.’”
In an email to Huddle, a spokesperson for the municipality confirmed they are studying the Herring Cove area as well as other regions in the city.
“…The municipality is currently conducting the Regional Plan Review, which will begin directing how redevelopment should occur in suburban areas,” reads the email.
“Spryfield has been identified as a growth area, and portions of Herring Cove have already been identified as a Rapid Transit Corridor. Therefore, land along this corridor is being studied to assess how they might change and redevelop over time for more residential and commercial uses.”
Holland believes the Spryfield business district could use more retail spaces, like cafes, clothing stores, and boutiques.
Much of the area the Commission wants to be reviewed are residential lots with housing on them. Holland believes some people who own older homes in the area would be willing to sell to a developer or business if the land gets rezoned.
“There’s a few, but not many empty lots. Most of them either have small businesses on them but could be developed further,” says Holland. “And there are other residential (lots) that currently have houses- a lot of them that are older and could conceivably be converted to commercial properties.”
“A lot of those properties, people want to sell them to allow for business improvement district to grow.”
But The business commission is not just looking to build more commercial spaces. They are also aware of the need for much more affordable housing options in Spryfield and Halifax as a whole. The commission wants to look at affordable housing options in the land review.
Holland says it would take 18-24 months for a complete zoning and land review to take place.