STR CAUGHT UP WITH RP4 DENIAL

NS Minister of Municipal Affairs denied approval of the HRM Regional Plan (RP) Phase 4 amendments. Since 2020, the Regional Planning process has incorporated years of extensive public engagement to inform updates to the 2014 RP – aimed at supporting sustainable growth across our region. On June 19th HRM Council passed a motion to repeal the existing 2014 RP and adopt the proposed 2025 Regional Municipal Planning Strategy with related amendments to other planning documents including the Regional Subdivision By-Law, Secondary Municipal Planning Strategies and Land Use By-Laws. In accordance to our HRM Charter, adoption of the RP and other planning documents is subject to provincial review and approval. Over the coming weeks, municipal staff will re-engage with the Province to determine the next steps on the planning process and ensure the RP is updated in a way that aligns with provincial interests and fulfills the municipality’s obligations under existing legislation. In the meantime, this means that the zoning changes proposed to allow for more Rural STRs (Short Term Rentals) in the Eastern Shore, Lawrencetown, Musquodoboit Valley, Dutch Settlement and the Lake Echo / Porters Lake / Chezzetcook (Hfx. County Planning Districts 8&9) have not been approved. This leaves those STR operators in limbo because they need to be enlisted on the Provincial Tourism Accommodation Registry which requires zoning confirmation from the municipality. And this is also a requirement of the AirBnB / VRBO online registration platforms. I would encourage those STR operators to contact their MLA to rectify this.

NATIONAL TREE DAY & FOREST WEEK

Tree Canada is encouraging Canadians to come together in appreciation of trees, their natural beauty, and the many benefits they provide. National Tree Day is Wed. Sept.24th and National Forest Week is Sept. 21st - 27th. You are invited to learn more about Canada’s forest heritage and to raise awareness about this valuable and renewable resource. Forest are fundamental to our economy, culture, traditions, history and of course our future! Find out more information at www.cif-ifc.org and www.treecanada.ca

45th ANNUAL TERRY FOX RUN

Back in 1980, Terry Fox took his Marathon of Hope through our Eastern Shore communities along Highway #7. Now we can keep his dream alive that cancer can be beaten. There will be Terry Fox Runs on Sunday, Sept.14th in Lake Echo, Musquodoboit Harbour and Sheet Harbour. Find a Run near you and register at:

www.run.terryfox.ca or www.terryfox.org

If you can’t make it to a run, please sponsor someone who will be participating. Or you can text “terryfox” to 45678 to donate $5, $10, $25 or $45 that will be added to your phone bill. @terryfoxfoundation #terryfoxrun.

CRAIG’S CAUSE ANNUAL TREK?  

Craig’s Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society will be taking a pause and will not have its 19th Annual NS Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Walk – Run – Bike Trek, in support of Pancreatic Cancer education, this year. Normally it is held at the Porters Lake Provincial Park on the last Saturday of September. They want to rethink the event and get back to its origins of a bike trek in honour of Craig Condon who was an avid cyclist. There is their “Kicking PancreAS” NS event on Oct. 4th at 630 PM which is a 5 Km run/walk around Lake Banook. Spots are limited and there is no onsite registration. For more details about registering or donating for this event, call Toll-Free: 1-877-212-9582 or at: www.craigscause.ca

AID FOR INADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY 

As we coped with another dry summer, many rural residents experienced dry or very low wells. HRM has a bylaw whereby landowners that are experiencing inadequate water supply on their home property to apply to the municipality to assist with the financing of drilling a new well or seek other water supply alternatives such as a cistern or water collection systems. Basically, taking out a 10-year term loan from HRM that places a lien onto your property like any local betterment charge. And it can also be used to upgrade your septic disposal system too. More details about this program are at: www.halifax.ca/home-property/property-taxes/water-sewage-financing

Anyone with additional questions can direct their enquiries to: taxandbilling@halifax.ca  or call 311. An application form for this program can be downloaded at: https://cdn.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/home-property/property-taxes/HRM%20By_Law%20C-1000%20Application%20Form%20-%20Water%20%20Septic.pdf

Furthermore, HRM Public Safety / EMO wants to know more data about exactly where rural residents are having dry well problems. Please call 311 or 902-490-4000 to have your property documented. This information will help HRM to prepare for future Emergency Drinking Water distribution programs.

AT EDUCATION & PROMOTION GRANTS

The Fall-Winter Proposals Intake for the HRM Active Transportation Education and Promotion Grant Program is open for new proposals. It is intended to support projects that aim to increase the number of people walking, bicycling, and rolling and improving the safety of people using these modes.

AT Projects may include:

• Safety and skills training programs

• Promotions and marketing programs

• Education and engagement

• Transportation Demand Management projects that focus on AT

• AT related events

• AT Etiquette and stewardship programs

There are three types of projects:

• Small Community project (or event) in one or more communities can get up to $1,000:

• Large Community project (or event) can receive a grant of up to $5,000

• Major project/program (cannot be a one-time event) with significant logistics and partners could receive a grant over $5,000

To access the Grant application and other info about this grant, please follow the link below and choose the Active Transportation Education and Promotion tab:

www.halifax.ca/transportation/cycling-walking/active-transportation-grants-program

The deadline is September 15th, 2025 for projects starting not earlier than October 15th, 2025 and ending on or before March 31st, 2026. For more information, please contact: Emma Martin, HRM AT Community Projects Coordinator ATGrants@halifax.ca  or call 902-499-6742

SOLAR FARM PUBLIC HEARING

There will be a Public Hearing for a Solar Farm proposal in West Petpeswick:  PLANAPP-2024-01794. The first reading was provided on June 5th and now it will proceed to a Public Hearing on Thursday,  September 4th at 6PM at the Harbour East Marine Drive Community Council chambers at Alderney Gate – 40 Alderney Drive, Dartmouth. More information on the application can be found at:

www.halifax.ca/business/planning-development/applications/planapp-2024-01794-solar-farm-use-r-6-rural-residential

HRM STRATEGIC PLAN IN PROGRESS

The 2021-2025 HRM Strategic Priorities Plan is coming to an end this fiscal year. Regional Council is creating its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan (SP) that will establish the strategic direction for the municipality over the next four years. Once approved, the SP will trigger the development of Action Plans. Years 1 and 2 Action Plans will be presented to HRM Budget Committee in Fall 2025 and will inform the development of the 2026/27 Budget and Business Plan through to the end of the 2029/30 fiscal year. The SP is the articulation of the municipality’s strategic mandate and is produced at the commencement of each new Regional Council’s term. Once confirmed, the Priorities and Goals are intended to remain unchanged throughout this four-year mandate. The Resident Survey is one of many inputs to the planning processes, with the results of the survey being used to measure performance and guide strategic policy and planning decisions. From Sept.20th to Oct.13th 2024, residents in randomly selected households across HRM were invited to complete the 2024 Resident Survey. There were 2,029 responses. Residents were asked to share their opinions on resident priorities and top issues facing the municipality, their satisfaction with municipal services, and their thoughts on potential and proposed changes and improvements – as well as other key issues impacting communities across the region. Results from the 2024 Resident Survey formed the primary public engagement process to inform development of the SP. It will come into effective April 1st, 2026.

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL

I like to welcome all students back to school. Your education is important for you to succeed in life. All motorists need to be extra careful with students walking, cycling, commuting, or travelling by school bus.