THE VOICE OF DEVELOPMENT IN NOVA SCOTIA
2025
Provincial Refusal
From the desk of the Executive Director, Stephen Adams – August 12, 2025
Dear UDI members:
As promised, I have an update to report regarding the Province’s refusal to approve HRM’s amendments to the Regional Plan.
On Monday, August 11, Halifax Regional Municipality announced that the Nova Scotia government rejected changes to the revised Regional Plan submitted by the municipality to the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
What does this mean for you as UDI members and your clients?
It means that the Nova Scotia government listened to our concerns around two specific issues:
-Clauses EN-34, 40 and 47: Changing watercourse setbacks from 20 meters to
30 meters; and,
-Clause EN-70: requiring EV-ready parking stalls for all parking spaces.
After Halifax Regional Council adopted these changes to the Regional Plan in June, despite UDI Nova Scotia’s opposition, we wrote Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr to ask that these clauses be removed.
The Nova Scotia government responded with positive action.
For the time being, it means that the previous Regional Plan, first adopted in 2014 and last amended in May 2025 remains in effect. In other words, the 20-meter watercourse buffer will remain in place, and there is no legislated requirement to
install EV-ready parking spaces.
At this point in time, we do not know the extent of any negative implications this decision may have. Over the next few days, we will work to find out and most importantly, determine how they can be resolved.
As we always do, UDI Nova Scotia will be doing everything we can to engage constructively with HRM and the Province as they consider next steps. Once the processes get underway, we will contact you for your input.
Stephen Adams
Executive Director
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Urban Development Institute of Nova Scotia
Urban Development Institute of Nova Scotia is the largest development organization in Nova Scotia. We ensure that government policies dealing with the land development industry are fair, consistent, and financially responsible, which will result in better-built communities for all Nova Scotians.
"UDI continues to grow as the respected voice of development in Nova Scotia. We continue to address our concerns with HRM regarding the Noise By-law and permit processing times. We were successful in initiating changes to the Complete Street Guide and bringing about a Preferred Customer Program to expedite subdivision approvals.
In anticipation of the pilot project being successful, we have requested that HRM extend this status to other application processes. Our cooperative approach with HRM has been strengthened, as we hosted a session to better understand the new POSSE System and to offer our insights. We hosted 4 tutorials for our members to discuss Centre Plan and to gain a deeper understanding of its effects on development. Our strategy to become a ‘trusted partner’ with HRM and the province has been successful and continues to progress."
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- Mark Van Zeumeren, President of the UDI Nova Scotia Board of Directors
As the recognized voice of the land development industry in Nova Scotia, developers, builders, and others associated with the development industry seek our guidance for support in dealing with issues which affect us all.
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... which is why we try to keep our members in the know of any development updates, policy changes, and major actions that may or may not affect their work.
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