Mahone Bay Plan Review

Despite being one of Nova Scotia’s smallest municipalities—both in size and in population—Mahone Bay represents a significant urban centre along Nova Scotia’s South Shore that faces considerable economic and growth pressures. The Town retained UPLAND Planning + Design to review and update the Town’s Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw focusing on balancing growth and development with the scenic and built form quality already existing in Mahone Bay. 

To kick off the project, UPLAND conducted a series of online and in-person engagements during the initial phase of consultations, establishing a clear understanding of the Town’s and the community’s priorities and vision for the future. Alongside the project’s Steering Team, UPLAND developed a vision for the Town along with the guiding principles and goals for the renewed Municipal Planning Strategy. 

Following the initial engagement, and supported by an extensive background analysis, UPLAND undertook the review and update of the Town’s planning documents. The review focuses on developing forward-looking policies and regulations that will meet the community’s needs and desires while promoting sustainable growth and development that does not compromise the natural and scenic assets in Mahone Bay. 

Through the drafting of the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw, UPLAND ensured that all policies and regulations were clear, implementable, and functional.

The completion date for the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw was January 2024.