Nova Scotia’s Executive Panel on Housing is speeding up approval for a housing development in Fall River, part of the Halifax Regional Municipality. The site was designated a special planning area in 2024, and HRM has already conducted extensive review and public consultation. Because the standard approval timeline wouldn’t allow construction to start this fall, the panel and the Minister of Housing are taking over the final approval steps — finishing amendments to municipal planning rules and completing a development agreement.

Before finalizing anything, the panel is holding one last public engagement period, running July 20 to August 3, with feedback collected via fallriversiteb.ca.

Key context: the panel has already enabled over 60,000 housing units across HRM. Special planning area status lets the Minister take over development approvals under the Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act, though projects still must meet all standard municipal and provincial permits and regulations. This effort ties into the province’s broader five-year housing strategy, “Our Homes, Action for Housing.”

Release:

The Executive Panel on Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is initiating public engagement to help expedite a proposed housing development in a Fall River special planning area.

Fall River Site B was designated a special planning area in 2024 to help address housing needs in that area. HRM has led all planning work on the site, including multiple applications and rounds of public engagement. To ensure construction can begin this fall, the panel and the Minister of Housing will complete the remaining steps of the planning application process.

“Nova Scotians need more homes, and that means we need to keep finding practical ways to move good housing projects forward faster,” said Housing Minister John White. “Traditional processes would not allow this work to proceed quickly enough to see shovels in the ground this season, so the executive panel on housing is stepping in to bring it across the finish line for approvals. This is exactly why this authority exists.”

The proposal has been carefully reviewed by HRM and independent experts through several rounds, with the developer making changes along the way to respond to the issues raised. The panel will build on that work to lead a final round of public engagement, finalize the amendments to the Municipal Planning Strategy and land use bylaw and complete a development agreement for consideration by the Minister of Housing.

The public participation period begins today, July 20 and ends August 3. Nova Scotians interested in providing feedback can do so at: https://www.fallriversiteb.ca/.

This work is part of the panel’s broader effort to reduce barriers, speed up approvals and support more housing in communities where it is needed.

Quick Facts:
– the executive panel has cleared the path for more than 60,000 housing units in HRM
– special planning area designations allow the Minister of Housing to assume authority for development approvals in accordance with the Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act
– if approved by the Minister, projects in special planning areas remain subject to required municipal and provincial permits, fees and regulatory requirements
– housing is one of six key priority areas the government has identified to grow the economy and strengthen Nova Scotia’s gross domestic product; this priority is supported by the government’s five-year housing plan, Our Homes, Action for Housing

Additional Resources:
Information on Fall River Site B and other special planning areas is available at: https://www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/regional-community-planning/regional-plan/special-planning-areas

Executive Panel on Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality:  https://novascotia.ca/housing-panel/

Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/housing%20in%20the%20hrm.pdf

HRM Regional Plan: https://www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/regional-community-planning/regional-plan

The Province’s five-year housing plan – Our Homes, Action for Housing: https://novascotia.ca/action-for-housing/