Council for the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg has approved a new Municipal Planning Strategy and Municipal-Wide Land Use By-law, completing a five-year planning process that will guide growth and development across the municipality.
The approval marks a significant milestone in its Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning Project, launched in 2020 to establish a comprehensive land use framework and meet provincial planning requirements.
Mayor Elspeth McLean-Wile said the final documents reflect extensive public participation and years of community input.
"I want to thank everyone who took the time to participate throughout this process," McLean-Wile said. "We heard valuable feedback from residents, property owners, community organizations and stakeholders, and those conversations helped strengthen the final documents."
The District of Lunenburg will be the last municipality in Nova Scotia to complete municipal-wide zoning, a provincial requirement intended to ensure all municipalities have consistent land use regulations in place.
"We had a responsibility to take the time needed to build a framework that reflects our communities and prepares us for the future," McLean-Wile said. "This plan provides clear direction for growth and development while helping ensure the municipality preserves the things that our residents appreciate about living here.”
The project underwent multiple rounds of public consultation and revisions before reaching Council for final approval. The adopted documents represent the fourth draft of the planning framework and incorporate feedback gathered through public meetings, workshops, open houses, and consultation sessions with residents, community organizations, and stakeholders.
A key element of the framework is the introduction of municipal-wide zoning, bringing consistent land use regulations to all areas of the municipality and providing greater clarity for property owners, residents, and future development proposals.
McLean-Wile also praised the municipality's planning department for its role in developing the framework over the course of the project.
"This was a tremendous undertaking," she said. "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.”
During the public hearing process, residents raised concerns about several aspects of the proposed regulations, including how some requirements could affect future development opportunities on certain properties.
Council reviewed written and verbal submissions before making its decision, acknowledging the challenges of balancing private property interests, environmental considerations, future growth pressures, and the long-term needs of communities across the municipality.
Municipal officials say the approved planning framework is intended to provide long-term direction for growth and development while helping protect the natural and community assets valued by residents.
The Municipal Planning Strategy and Municipal-Wide Land Use By-law will now be submitted to the Province of Nova Scotia for review and approval.
More information about the Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning Project is available at Engage MODL.
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