‘We need housing:’ Halifax council approves final phase of Central Plan – Halifax | The Canadian News

The Halifax Regional Council has given the green light to the latest phase of an urban planning strategy for Halifax and Dartmouth after three hours of debate Tuesday night.

Councilors voted unanimously in favor of adopting the plan with some modifications, including a report on the pre-approved development applications that will be affected by the passage of the final phase.

The Center Plan is a planning process for the Regional Center, which includes Peninsula Halifax and Dartmouth within the Ring Road. The plan is being developed in two phases, Package A, approved by the council in September 2019, and Package B.

5:23More reaction to the provincial housing plan

Package B is the second and final phase of the downtown plan that was officially launched in 2016. It focuses on developments that city staff deemed appropriate for high-growth areas, such as downtown Halifax.

This phase focuses on protecting the character of low-density neighborhoods while fostering new growth through hidden density opportunities, such as approval of backyard suites and internal conversions of existing larger homes.

Tuesday’s session was the first in-person public hearing since the pandemic occurred and the last chance for people to share their thoughts on the final stage of the planning strategy.

“Many residents, like me, a young professional just beginning my career in Halifax, depend on affordable, lower-density housing, and will not be able to afford to live in a tall building that will replace it,” said Caden Hebb, a local resident. of Halifax. resident, who attended the hearing.

Halifax Mayor Mike Savage said during the session that between packages A and B, there are 49,000 potential developments as of now.

“We already have 20-odd thousand developments approved. We need the housing that this will provide, ”he added.

—With files from Alexa MacLean