Halifax Common Master Plan

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Rendered Plan of the Halifax Common.

The Halifax Common Master Plan Review

Following extensive public engagement in 2018 and 2019, the Halifax Common Master Plan was approved in principle by Regional Council in February 2022. This means that the Master Plan has been endorsed in its current form with the expectation that we continue public consultation to validate what we’ve heard, determine how elements of the plan get prioritized, and gather any feedback on the plan that residents would like to share.

While some areas such as the Wanderers Block will require further planning work, other elements of the Master Plan are ready for implementation. We’re pleased to announce that the new aquatic facility is already underway and is expected to be operational in the summer of 2023. As projects from the master plan are implemented, we’ll continue to engage residents regarding priorities for future parkland and open space improvements.

Sharing Your Feedback

The online survey is now closed. Thank you to all who participated and provided feedback through this engagement session.

For questions or to provide direct feedback on the Master Plan:

Project Lead – Carolle Koziak Roberts

Halifax Regional Municipality

Email: commonplan@halifax.ca

Reviewing the Halifax Common Master Plan

The Halifax Common Master Plan is a guiding document for decisions relating to open space and public uses on the Halifax Common. It considers open space across the entire Halifax Common district with policy directions and actions. It also includes design and programming guidance for the municipally owned open space lands.

The Master Plan sets out a three-tiered decision-making framework:

  1. Vision, Goals and Guiding Principles describe the aspirations and values captured during the development of the Master Plan. These are the fundamental directions about the nature and intention for the Halifax Common. (Chapter 3)
  2. District-Wide Policy Directions consider many of the open space characteristics, contributing factors, and key themes for the entire geographic area of the Halifax Common. These include policy directions to guide future decisions, and actions to be undertaken to protect and improve the open space areas throughout the Halifax Common district. (Chapter 4)
  3. Municipal Land Strategies go into more site-specific detail and include design and programming guidance for specific parkland, streets, and open space areas under the ownership of the Municipality. This section includes illustrative plans as examples of possible improvements that originate from the goals and guiding principles, relevant policies, and actions. (Chapter 5)

Report Documents

The Halifax Common Master Plan can be found through the links below. The additional background appendices can be found in the Document Library, located in the sidebar.

Halifax Common Master Plan (full report, 36 MB)

Individual Chapters and Sections of the Master Plan Report:

Chapter 1 introduces the Halifax Common and the purpose of the Master Plan

Chapter 2 provides an overview of the Halifax Common today and presents the planning analysis, public consultation, and key findings.

Chapter 3 sets out the decision making framework and includes the Vision Statement, Vision Goals, and Guiding Principles.

Chapter 4 provides policy directions that address the open spaces within the district area of the Halifax Common. The policy directions are organized within the following subject areas:

Chapter 5 contains strategies with design and programming guidance for the municipally owned parks, streets, and open spaces. The Municipal Land Strategies are provided for the following areas:


The Halifax Common Master Plan Review

Following extensive public engagement in 2018 and 2019, the Halifax Common Master Plan was approved in principle by Regional Council in February 2022. This means that the Master Plan has been endorsed in its current form with the expectation that we continue public consultation to validate what we’ve heard, determine how elements of the plan get prioritized, and gather any feedback on the plan that residents would like to share.

While some areas such as the Wanderers Block will require further planning work, other elements of the Master Plan are ready for implementation. We’re pleased to announce that the new aquatic facility is already underway and is expected to be operational in the summer of 2023. As projects from the master plan are implemented, we’ll continue to engage residents regarding priorities for future parkland and open space improvements.

Sharing Your Feedback

The online survey is now closed. Thank you to all who participated and provided feedback through this engagement session.

For questions or to provide direct feedback on the Master Plan:

Project Lead – Carolle Koziak Roberts

Halifax Regional Municipality

Email: commonplan@halifax.ca

Reviewing the Halifax Common Master Plan

The Halifax Common Master Plan is a guiding document for decisions relating to open space and public uses on the Halifax Common. It considers open space across the entire Halifax Common district with policy directions and actions. It also includes design and programming guidance for the municipally owned open space lands.

The Master Plan sets out a three-tiered decision-making framework:

  1. Vision, Goals and Guiding Principles describe the aspirations and values captured during the development of the Master Plan. These are the fundamental directions about the nature and intention for the Halifax Common. (Chapter 3)
  2. District-Wide Policy Directions consider many of the open space characteristics, contributing factors, and key themes for the entire geographic area of the Halifax Common. These include policy directions to guide future decisions, and actions to be undertaken to protect and improve the open space areas throughout the Halifax Common district. (Chapter 4)
  3. Municipal Land Strategies go into more site-specific detail and include design and programming guidance for specific parkland, streets, and open space areas under the ownership of the Municipality. This section includes illustrative plans as examples of possible improvements that originate from the goals and guiding principles, relevant policies, and actions. (Chapter 5)

Report Documents

The Halifax Common Master Plan can be found through the links below. The additional background appendices can be found in the Document Library, located in the sidebar.

Halifax Common Master Plan (full report, 36 MB)

Individual Chapters and Sections of the Master Plan Report:

Chapter 1 introduces the Halifax Common and the purpose of the Master Plan

Chapter 2 provides an overview of the Halifax Common today and presents the planning analysis, public consultation, and key findings.

Chapter 3 sets out the decision making framework and includes the Vision Statement, Vision Goals, and Guiding Principles.

Chapter 4 provides policy directions that address the open spaces within the district area of the Halifax Common. The policy directions are organized within the following subject areas:

Chapter 5 contains strategies with design and programming guidance for the municipally owned parks, streets, and open spaces. The Municipal Land Strategies are provided for the following areas: