Case 24021: Cogswell District Land Use Policies

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Last Updated: May 15, 2024


Upcoming engagement opportunities regarding land use policies in the Cogswell District


Residents are invited to participate in public engagement activities to share their feedback on the future land use policies in the Cogswell District neighbourhood. The municipality is seeking feedback on building design rules, such as building heights and materials, and permitted land uses, such as mixed-use, residential, and commercial and an affordable housing strategy.

To learn more or share feedback, residents are invited to:


  • Attend an open house on May 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. or 7 to 9 p.m. at the Halifax Convention Centre, Room 604. Both sessions will follow the same program. Staff will be making a presentation outlining the planning process, followed by round table discussions with staff and members of the public.



  • Join a Design Walk of the Cogswell District. Design Walks are an opportunity to walk through Downtown Halifax and the Cogswell District and discuss the potential design elements of new buildings in the district. These design walks are focused on discussing how new development in the Cogswell District should look including land uses, building materials, street experience and more. Municipal planning staff will be present to guide the conversation and receive your feedback.

Registration is required. You can register for a design walk here.





  • Take part in a survey on this webpage, which closes on June 15

Feedback form all public engagement will be captured and included in a What We Heard report, which will inform draft amendments to existing planning documents. The draft amendments will be posted on this website before they are brought to Regional Council for discussion in 2025.


The Cogswell District Design PlanThe Cogswell District Design Plan

Project outline

The Cogswell District is a transformational, municipal-led city-building initiative, which will convert the underutilized Cogswell Interchange into a vibrant, mixed-use neighbourhood that will reconnect downtown Halifax to the north end. There are two main steps to the project:

1) the design and construction of streets, utilities and parks, and;

2) land use planning and building design rules.

On February 26, 2019, Regional Council approved a construction design plan for the streets, utilities and parks. Construction of the Cogswell District is currently underway and is approximately half complete. If you want to learn more about the street, utility and park designs please visit the Cogswell District webpage here.

The purpose of this process is to create building design rules and determine permitted land uses for the District.

The Cogswell District is a unique opportunity to imagine a new neighborhood in the heart of Halifax. The design of buildings can reflect elements from history or be forward-looking and modern – each block within the district can have unique features and design elements to create a unique character. The types of businesses, residential buildings and other uses will also be considered.

Additionally, Regional Council directed staff to create a strategy to support long-term affordable housing in the district. A review of planning policies and regulations on surrounding lands in the north end and downtown Halifax, is also a part of the project. This is intended to ensure that new development in the Cogswell District and existing neighbourhoods complement one another.

What is the proposed planning process?

The planning process involves amending the Regional Centre Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy (RCSMPS, AKA “Centre Plan”) and Regional Centre Land Use By-law (RCLUB), and creating an affordable housing strategy for the Cogswell District.

Specifically, this includes consulting the public and rightsholders, creating new planning policies and regulations, engaging other orders of government for advice and potential resources for affordable housing, and seeking public feedback on the draft amendments to planning documents.

How can I participate in the planning process?

You are invited! The public will be invited to shape these elements through the consultation process.

The public and stakeholders may participate in the planning process in the following ways:

  • attend an open house on May 22 from 2 - 4 p.m. or 7 - 9 p.m. at the Halifax Convention Centre
  • join a Design Walk of the Cogswell District on June 4, 5, or 8
  • participate in a Reddit Ask Me Anything on June 6 from 5 - 9 p.m.
  • take part in a survey, which closes on June 15
  • send an email to the planner for this file
  • review draft planning documents when they are posted to this webpage

Last Updated: May 15, 2024


Upcoming engagement opportunities regarding land use policies in the Cogswell District


Residents are invited to participate in public engagement activities to share their feedback on the future land use policies in the Cogswell District neighbourhood. The municipality is seeking feedback on building design rules, such as building heights and materials, and permitted land uses, such as mixed-use, residential, and commercial and an affordable housing strategy.

To learn more or share feedback, residents are invited to:


  • Attend an open house on May 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. or 7 to 9 p.m. at the Halifax Convention Centre, Room 604. Both sessions will follow the same program. Staff will be making a presentation outlining the planning process, followed by round table discussions with staff and members of the public.



  • Join a Design Walk of the Cogswell District. Design Walks are an opportunity to walk through Downtown Halifax and the Cogswell District and discuss the potential design elements of new buildings in the district. These design walks are focused on discussing how new development in the Cogswell District should look including land uses, building materials, street experience and more. Municipal planning staff will be present to guide the conversation and receive your feedback.

Registration is required. You can register for a design walk here.





  • Take part in a survey on this webpage, which closes on June 15

Feedback form all public engagement will be captured and included in a What We Heard report, which will inform draft amendments to existing planning documents. The draft amendments will be posted on this website before they are brought to Regional Council for discussion in 2025.


The Cogswell District Design PlanThe Cogswell District Design Plan

Project outline

The Cogswell District is a transformational, municipal-led city-building initiative, which will convert the underutilized Cogswell Interchange into a vibrant, mixed-use neighbourhood that will reconnect downtown Halifax to the north end. There are two main steps to the project:

1) the design and construction of streets, utilities and parks, and;

2) land use planning and building design rules.

On February 26, 2019, Regional Council approved a construction design plan for the streets, utilities and parks. Construction of the Cogswell District is currently underway and is approximately half complete. If you want to learn more about the street, utility and park designs please visit the Cogswell District webpage here.

The purpose of this process is to create building design rules and determine permitted land uses for the District.

The Cogswell District is a unique opportunity to imagine a new neighborhood in the heart of Halifax. The design of buildings can reflect elements from history or be forward-looking and modern – each block within the district can have unique features and design elements to create a unique character. The types of businesses, residential buildings and other uses will also be considered.

Additionally, Regional Council directed staff to create a strategy to support long-term affordable housing in the district. A review of planning policies and regulations on surrounding lands in the north end and downtown Halifax, is also a part of the project. This is intended to ensure that new development in the Cogswell District and existing neighbourhoods complement one another.

What is the proposed planning process?

The planning process involves amending the Regional Centre Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy (RCSMPS, AKA “Centre Plan”) and Regional Centre Land Use By-law (RCLUB), and creating an affordable housing strategy for the Cogswell District.

Specifically, this includes consulting the public and rightsholders, creating new planning policies and regulations, engaging other orders of government for advice and potential resources for affordable housing, and seeking public feedback on the draft amendments to planning documents.

How can I participate in the planning process?

You are invited! The public will be invited to shape these elements through the consultation process.

The public and stakeholders may participate in the planning process in the following ways:

  • attend an open house on May 22 from 2 - 4 p.m. or 7 - 9 p.m. at the Halifax Convention Centre
  • join a Design Walk of the Cogswell District on June 4, 5, or 8
  • participate in a Reddit Ask Me Anything on June 6 from 5 - 9 p.m.
  • take part in a survey, which closes on June 15
  • send an email to the planner for this file
  • review draft planning documents when they are posted to this webpage

  • Cogswell District Planning Policies Survey

    The Cogswell District project will convert 16 acres of road infrastructure into a mixed-use neighbourhood, extending the entrance of the downtown northwards and reuniting communities separated by the interchange lands. The urban street grid will be reinstated and will create development blocks capable of supporting new residential and commercial environments for thousands of residents.   


    The current planning process is intended to welcome community engagement in creating the land use and building design rules, and an affordable housing strategy.  Amendments to the Regional Centre Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy (commonly known as “Centre Plan”) and the Regional Centre Land Use By-law, are needed to implement the building design and land use rules. 


    This survey provides you the opportunity to provide feedback on certain topics related to the project. For more engagement opportunities, please see the project Shape Your City page.



    Access & Privacy Message

    In accordance with Section 485 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), any personal information collected in this survey will only be used by municipal staff and, if necessary, individuals and/or organizations under service contract with the Halifax Regional Municipality for purposes relating to processing the Cogswell Land Use Planning Process survey results.

     

    If you have any questions about the collection and use of this personal information, please contact the Access and Privacy Office at 902.943.2148 or privacy@halifax.ca.

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