Provincial Government Takes Over Approval Power For Nearly 23,000 New Rental Units In Halifax
HALIFAX–The province is taking over the approval process for nine areas in Halifax to make way for a potential 22,600 new residential units set to be shovel ready between 2022 and 2024.
The special planning areas are located at:
- Former Penhorn Mall lands, 950 units;
- Southdale/Mount Hope, 1,200 units;
- Bedford West 10, 1,300 units;
- Bedford West 1 and 12, 2,500 units;
- Port Wallace, up to 4,900 units;
- Indigo Shores, 150 building lots;
- Morris Lake expansion, 3,100 units;
- Dartmouth Crossing, 2,500 units;
- Sandy Lake, 6,000 units.
Detailed maps of the areas are available here.
John Lohr, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister, says housing is an issue everywhere and is an especially big problem in the Halifax region.
“We need to act now to address it,” he says. “These nine special planning areas could offer a significant number of new homes for people in the region.”
Lohr says the move could save months, or even years, of approval time.
He also announced $2.3-million in spending for Halifax to conduct environmental, land-use suitability, transportation, and infrastructure studies to support future planning and development.
Halifax Mayor Mike Savage says he’s pleased with the announcement.
“The nine areas announced today are within communities designated for growth through the municipal regional planning process,” he says.
Lohr says the housing deficit in Halifax is estimated to be at least 17,000 units, and is growing.
He says the province spoke to 31 developers, industry representatives, and community agencies, and 41 potential developments are being considered.
Projects will be subject to all the permitting, fees, and regulatory requirements laid out in the Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act.
The new special planning areas were created based on recommendations from the Halifax Regional Municipality housing task force, which was appointed last November.
The task force is chaired by former cabinet minister Geoff MacLellan and is made up of representatives from the provincail government and Halifax Regional Municipality.
Jack Morse is a reporter with CKHZ 103.5 in Halifax, a Huddle content partner.