Update - February 24th, 2009, HRM Council passed new development restrictions for St. Margaret's Bay. New developments over 7500 square feet will now need a development agreement.  

An interim measure has also been taken to amend the existing planning strategy   for St. Margaret’s Bay (District 1&3) due to the current lack of regulations in much of the area (the majority of the SMB area is designated Multiple Use which allows developers to proceed ‘as of right’ with little restrictions). The amendment would introduce Development Agreements based on guidelines set by HRM Planning through input from the community. This will provide some form of development focus for the area until longer term planning and visioning by the community are completed.

  Position & Proposed Solutions 

• Interim development agreements will provide a process for proposed development to conform to when considering building commercial properties in the SMB area. Ideally it will be in keeping with coastal community values and provide control on the scale and scope of buildings.

• SMBSA in partnership with the SMB Regional Tourism Development Association and Chamber of Commerce will provide input to HRM planning staff to develop the guidelines for the area. The public are encouraged to do so as well, either through the SMBSA (community@heartofthebay.ca) or directly to HRM staff (hughesp@halifax.ca)

• Major issues addressed in the DA process will be: - Lot sizes - Water issues - Building Design - Usage - Landscaping - Services - Other TBD

• A longer term solution to planning in SMB will be through a community visioning and planning process led by HRM over the next 18 – 24 months. 

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