FAQs
Attend an open house on May 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. or 7 to 9 p.m. at the Halifax Convention Centre
Join a Design Walk of the Cogswell District on June 4, 5, or 8 with municipal planning staff to provide your thoughts on building design in the Cogswell District [form link]
Participate in a Reddit Ask me Anything on June 6 from 5 to 9pm
Take part in a survey, which closes on June 15
When are the engagement sessions regarding land use planning policies in the Cogswell District?
Residents have several opportunities to participate in the planning process and share feedback to help shape future land use policies for the Cogswell District. Residents may:
Community engagement details can be found on Shape Your City.
What is the goal of the engagement sessions?
The municipality is seeking feedback on building design rules, such as building heights and materials, and permitted land uses, such as mixed-use, residential, commercial, etc. The municipality is also seeking feedback on an affordable housing strategy for the Cogswell District. The municipality will collect feedback at the engagement sessions and share its findings in a What We Heard report.
What is the timeline for this engagement?
Following community engagement sessions in May and June 2024, the municipality will share a What We Heard report and share the draft amendments to existing planning documents. The draft amendments will be posted on our website before they are brought to Regional Council for discussion in 2025.
Will there be affordable housing in the Cogswell District?
Regional Council directed staff to prepare an affordable housing strategy for the Cogswell District. Staff are currently engaging with non-profit housing providers, community groups, and other orders of government to receive advice on this. Residents are invited to provide their feedback as part of the Cogswell engagement process.
Who owns the lands in the Cogswell District?
Most of the land within the Cogswell District is owned by the Halifax Regional Municipality. Some lands within the district are also privately owned.
I thought the Cogswell Design was already approved by Council. Why is this planning process happening?
On February 26, 2019, Halifax Regional Council approved a construction design plan for the streets, utilities and parks in the Cogswell District. Construction is over half-way complete.
The approved design plan is only for public infrastructure. It does not include design rules for buildings, or land use requirements. Furthermore, Regional Council directed staff to prepare an affordable housing strategy for the Cogswell District.
The current planning process is intended to welcome community engagement in creating the land use and building design rules, and 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.
What is the Cogswell District project?
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.
For more information about the project, visit: halifax.ca/cogswell.