The Nova Scotia government has introduced new legislation that grants it the authority to designate land for future transportation corridors. This proactive measure aims to streamline development of significant infrastructure projects while ensuring better coordination between stakeholders.
New rules for land use in designated corridors
The Transportation Corridor Control Act is part of an omnibus bill tabled by John Lohr, Nova Scotia's minister of municipal affairs, at Province House. Under this legislation, property owners within 30 metres of designated corridor land will require a permit from the province to undertake construction, alteration, or other development activities.
"This will help improve on-time, on-budget delivery of significant transportation infrastructure by minimizing delays and improving co-ordination between landowners, municipalities and utilities", Lohr explained during a briefing on the bill.
The legislation also imposes additional restrictions on utility companies, which will need ministerial approval to perform grading or excavation work on or within 10 metres of corridor lands. Furthermore, the government is authorized to enter private properties within the 30-metre buffer zone for site preparation and, if necessary, order the removal of structures, vegetation, or parts of buildings.
Coordinating development through better planning
Peter Hackett, deputy minister of Link Nova Scotia, emphasized that the legislation aims to prevent conflicts during planning and development. He noted that requiring a provincial permit before municipal development permits are issued is intended as an "up-front checkbox" to ensure coordination.
Matt Neville, a planner with Link Nova Scotia, echoed this sentiment, calling the initiative a way to help stakeholders work together in what he described as "a very constrained, difficult corridor to work in."
While officials have not identified specific locations for future corridors, a recent transportation study provides some insights. The study, released last month, explored potential projects such as widening Highway 102, establishing commuter rail services, and rapid bus transit within the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Additional measures in the omnibus bill
The omnibus bill also includes provisions beyond transportation planning. Among the notable amendments is a measure allowing municipalities to reduce property taxes for homeowners rebuilding their homes after natural disasters. This addresses a challenge faced by residents in Upper Tantallon, who saw their property taxes increase after rebuilding homes destroyed by wildfires in 2023.
Lohr acknowledged that the province is likely to face more frequent extreme weather events, saying, "Unfortunately, sometimes homes are lost."
The legislation also seeks to address delays in child-care centre development by exempting them from certain land-use bylaws in the Halifax Regional Municipality. Similar exemptions were previously granted for health-care facilities.
Other changes included in the bill are:
- Allowing electronic payments for tax sales.
- Permitting municipal returning officers to vote in elections.
- Expanding the options for posting public notices and advertisements about municipal elections to include online platforms.
- Granting voters the ability to have their names removed or obscured from publicly shared voters lists.
- Allowing additional entities to participate in Halifax’s Cogswell Energy District, even if they fall outside the district’s geographic boundaries.
These wide-ranging legislative updates reflect the Progressive Conservative government’s focus on modernizing municipal processes and addressing evolving provincial needs. As Nova Scotia moves forward with its transportation and infrastructure plans, the new legislation sets the groundwork for enhanced collaboration and reduced bureaucratic hurdles.
