zoning

The last municipality in Nova Scotia has adopted mandatory zoning requirements.

The Municipality of Lunenburg announced they’ll be submitting their proposal to the province for approval. They’ll be the final municipality across the province to do so.

The province made the process mandatory in 2018, with the intent of having municipalities implement clear zoning laws for all the land under their jurisdiction, and to help development and ensure consistent land use across the province.

The Municipality of Lunenburg began their process in 2020, according to Mayor Elspeth McLean-White.

In a press release from the municipality, she said the final documents represent extensive public participation and years of community input and planning.

“I want to thank everyone who took the time to participate throughout this process,” said McLean-Wile. “We heard valuable feedback from residents, property owners, community organizations and stakeholders, and those conversations helped strengthen the final documents.” 

Residents attend an open house in LaHave, Nova Scotia – SUBMITTED: MUNICIPALITY OF LUNENBURG

The document submitted was the fourth iteration of the proposal, and incorporated feedback from workshops, open houses and consultations with members of the public, stakeholders and community organizations.

Some residents raised concerns during the public hearing process, and the council said they reviewed written and verbal submissions before ultimately moving forward with the latest iteration of the plan. 

“This was a tremendous undertaking,” said McLean-Wile. “Our planning team brought a deep understanding of our communities to this work, and their expertise and dedication were instrumental in creating a planning strategy that reflects local priorities.” 

The Municipal Planning Strategy and Municipal-Wide Land Use by-law will now be submitted to the province for review and approval.