Indian Falls Park Maintenance Closure

Indian Falls Park will be closed Tuesday, September 24th and Wednesday, September 25th for the installation of the new stairs.

Please do not visit the park during these days.

Thank you for your cooperation.

New Playground Open at MARC Ballfields!

The Municipal Activity and Recreation Complex in Dayspring, better known as the MARC, is a year round outdoor recreation facility. With 100 acres of open space, including fields, woods, ponds, brooks and trails, the MARC is perfect for flying a kite, having a picnic, stargazing, watching wildlife near the ponds or exploring the trails on foot, or on mountain bike. The complex also boasts softball fields, an 18-Hole Disc Golf Course (9 baskets), a BMX/Mountain bike skills park and children's playground.  With so many offerings, the MARC is ideal to meet all of your recreation needs.

MARC Address:

• Recreation Complex - 33 Leary Fraser Road, Dayspring
• Ballfields - 97 Leary Fraser Road, Dayspring

Japanese Knotweed

Japanese Knotweed is considered an invasive species in Nova Scotia

Japanese Knotweed grows mainly in urban habitats but may also be found in natural watercourse areas. It thrives in full sunlight, preferring open exposure, but can also survive in deep shade. Look for Japanese Knotweed along roadsides, ditches, fence lines, and around old homesteads. This invasive species grows in thick clumps that block out sunlight, effectively shading out native species and reducing biodiversity.

What Can You Do?

• Promote the use of native plants for gardens and landscaping; avoid planting invasive species.
• When removing Knotweed from your property, do not burn the plant, or place it in a backyard compost pile or your green cart.
• Double bag it and leave it in the sun to rot, then discard.
• Remove the entire root system, or the plant will resprout from remaining roots.
• Dig up young Knotweed plants to prevent further spread.
• Cover the plant with dark material to block out the sun and cook the plant. This process, called tarping, is best done when started in late spring. This is not recommended for low light areas.
• If you spot this invasive species, report the location to the Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council or iNaturalist.ca.

For more information, visit the Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council website: https://nsinvasives.ca/

Notice of Approval: Coastal Protection Regulations

The amended Municipal Planning Strategy and new Municipal-Wide Land Use By-Law pertaining to Coastal Protection Regulations were reviewed and approved by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing on Friday, August 9, 2024. The regulations are effective as of the date of this advertisement.

To inspect the amended Municipal Planning Strategy and new Municipal-Wide Land Use By-Law, visit the MODL Municipal Services Building at 10 Allée Champlain Drive, Cookville, NS from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or access the documents online at www.modl.ca/zoning. If you have any questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Tina Robichaud-Bond
Acting Municipal Clerk

Published online – August 13, 2024 8:21am

Municipal Compliance for Short-Term Rentals

As part of the Provincial licensing requirement for short-term rentals, registration requirements will include a confirmation of municipal land use compliance. The Municipality does not have zoning regulations throughout the entire municipality. In areas where there are no zoning regulations, a zoning letter can be provided. In areas with Land Use regulations, a Development Permit will be required to ensure compliance.

In reviewing land use compliance, the Municipality will confirm compliance with other municipal regulations, including the building code.

An application form is required with the appropriate fee. Please print and complete the form linked below, and return it (with the fee noted on the form), to the Municipal Services Building.

pdf Short-Term Rental Confirmation Request(133 KB)

We recognize that the Province has implemented a tight timeline for license renewal. Compliance letters or permits will be processed within 14 days. We appreciate your patience while we work through this process.

Learn More About Coastal and Cluster Regulations

Notice on coastal regulations

On June 18, 2024, Council passed Second Reading to amend MODL’s Municipal Planning Strategy and introduce a new Municipal-Wide Land Use By-law that includes coastal protection regulations. The regulations are currently in effect and are pending Provincial approval.

If your property is located within the Designated Coastal Protection Area, you are required to comply with the new regulations of the Municipal-Wide Land Use By-law. Use this interactive map to determine if your property is within the Designated Coastal Protection Area.

Municipal-wide Municipal Planning Strategy

Municipal-wide Land Use By-law

More project documents can be found here, including PDF maps.

Notice on cluster regulations

On July 30, 2024, Council passed First Reading to amend the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law to establish Cluster Development regulations. A public information session will be held prior to a public hearing to give residents opportunities to learn about the regulations and ask questions. For more information, including project documents, please click here.

Notice of Intention to Adopt Cluster Development Regulations

On July 30, 2024, Municipal Council conducted First Reading of the amended Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and Municipal Wide Land Use By-law (LUB) to establish Cluster Development regulations in the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. This notice is to advise residents that the amended MPS and LUB are effective as of the date of First Reading.

A public information session and public hearing will be held at a date to be determined.  The Public will be given notice of the date/time when available. 

Click pdf Public Notice (552 KB) to view it in its entirety. 

Published Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

Audit Committee Meeting - July 2, 2024

The Audit Committee will be meeting on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. for a pre-audit discussion.  The meeting will be held at the Municipal Services Building, 10 Allee Champlain Drive, Cookville, and is open to the public.

The agenda, once available, can be viewed here:

https://www.modl.ca/index.php?option=com_docman&view=list&slug=2024-agendas-recordings-minutes-1&Itemid=855&layout=table

Public Hearing Notice - Coastal Protection

A Public Hearing will be held on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. regarding the proposed amended Municipal Planning Strategy and the new Municipal-Wide Land Use By-law. The Public Hearing will break at 6:00 p.m. and resume at 7:00 p.m. This is in regards to Coastal Protection regulations.

The public may make formal written or oral submissions to Council. Written submissions will be received until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by mail to April Whynot-Lohnes, Municipal Clerk, 10 Allée Champlain Drive, Cookville, NS B4V 9E4. Oral submissions may be received at the Public Hearing.

The public is invited to attend the meetings which will be held at the Municipal Services Building, 10 Allée Champlain Drive, Cookville. Learn more about this project at https://engage.modl.ca/coastal-protection

Public Hearing Notice Update - Coastal Protection

Public Hearing Notice for Coastal Protection Regulations

On May 14, 2024, Municipal Council gave Notice of its intent to establish Coastal Protection regulations by amending the Municipal Planning Strategy and adopting a new Municipal-Wide Land Use By-law.

The regulations will guide how development occurs along the coast to ensure that new homes, businesses, and other structures are not placed in areas that could be at risk of coastal flooding or erosion, while protecting natural assets from potential harms caused by development.   

PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSIONS will be held prior to the public hearing to give residents opportunities to learn about the regulations and ask questions. The public information sessions will be held as follows:

• Riverport Community Centre on Thursday, May 23^rd, 2024

Doors to open at 6:30 p.m. and a staff presentation starting at 7:00 p.m.

• Lahave and District Fire Hall on Tuesday, May 28^th, 2024

Doors to open at 6:30 p.m. and a staff presentation starting at 7:00 p.m.

• Big Tancook Island ferry wharf (on the island) on Wednesday, May 29^th, 2024 at 12:00 p.m.

An informal opportunity for residents to ask questions to planning staff.

• Virtual public information session on Tuesday, June 4^th, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.

Staff presentation and Q&A with residents. The presentation will be recorded and posted online. Link and information will be posted at https://engage.modl.ca/coastal-protection

A PUBLIC HEARING on the amended Municipal Planning Strategy and the new Municipal-Wide Land Use By-law will be held as follows:

Hearing Starts: Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.

Evening Session: Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.

Hearing Location: Council Chambers, located at 10 Allée Champlain Drive, Cookville, NS

The public can make formal written or oral submissions to Council. Written submissions will be received until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday June 11, 2024 to April Whynot-Lohnes, Municipal Clerk, 10 Allée Champlain Drive, Cookville, NS B4V 9E4 or by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Oral submissions will be received at the time and place of the Hearing. Council can make a decision regarding the adoption of the amended Municipal Planning Strategy and the new Municipal-Wide Land Use By-law following the Public Hearing.

Copies of the proposed regulations and related reports are available to view at the Municipal Office at 10 Allée Champlain Drive, Cookville, during normal office hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or found online on the Coastal Protection project page on the MODL Engage website: https://engage.modl.ca/coastal-protection

For further information, contact the Planning Offices at 902-530-2802, or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

April Whynot-Lohnes, Municipal Clerk
Posted on Thursday, May 16, 2024

Public Hearing Notice - Coastal Protection

Establishing Coastal Protection regulations through an amended Municipal Planning Strategy and a new Municipal-Wide Land Use By-law.

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, Municipal Council gave Notice of its intent to establish Coastal Protection regulations by amending the Municipal Planning Strategy and adopting a new Municipal-Wide Land Use By-law.

The proposed regulations will guide how development occurs along the coast to ensure that new homes, businesses, and other structures are not placed in areas that could be at risk of coastal flooding or erosion, while protecting natural assets from potential harms caused by development.

PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSIONS will be held prior to the public hearing to give residents opportunities to learn about the regulations and ask questions. Dates and times for these sessions will be posted at engage.modl.ca/coastal-protection shortly.

A PUBLIC HEARING on the amended Municipal Planning Strategy and the new Municipal-Wide Land Use By-law will be held as follows:

Hearing Starts: Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.
Evening Session: Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
Hearing Location: Council Chambers, located at 10 Allée Champlain Drive, Cookville, NS

The public can make formal written or oral submissions to Council. Written submissions will be received until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday June 11, 2024 to April Whynot-Lohnes, Municipal Clerk, 10 Allée Champlain Drive, Cookville, NS B4V 9E4 or by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Oral submissions will be received at the time and place of the Hearing. Council can make a decision regarding the adoption of the amended Municipal Planning Strategy and the new Municipal-Wide Land Use By-law following the Public Hearing.

Copies of the proposed regulations and related reports are available to view at the Municipal Office at 10 Allée Champlain Drive, Cookville, during normal office hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or found online at https://engage.modl.ca/ .

For further information, contact the Planning Department offices at 902-530-2802, or visit engage.modl.ca/coastal-protection.

April Whynot-Lohnes, Municipal Clerk
Posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 1:29pm
Municipal Services Building,
10 Allée Champlain Drive, Cookville, NS

MARC Playground Update

As part of our continuing efforts to improve our parks, in the summer/fall 2023, we conducted safety inspections at 6 locations. The inspection report identified risks and areas of concern that required varying levels of action. While many issues were mitigated through small repairs or changes to our maintenance program; some identified concerns required more significant measures to be taken.

The inspection of the MARC playground structure revealed a number of safety issues including: frost heaving of the play equipment creating an 18” to 24” gap between the surface and bottom of the ladder and 3 slides, also exposing the concrete pilings; and, delaminating of surface material exposing metal and sharp edges.

Given the safety concerns and, on the advice of our insurance provider, it was determined that the playground structure was not safe for users, had reached the end of its useful life and removal was required. The playground structure was removed in the fall of 2023.

The future replacement of the MARC playground structure will meet the requirements outlined in the Lunenburg County Accessibility Plan to ensure that we provide meaningful and equitable access for playground users with disabilities.
While the 2024-2025 Capital Budget does not include the replacement of the MARC playground structure, an accessible playground at the MARC is included in our 5 Year Capital Plan at estimated cost of approximately $400,000.
We will be installing a play box with equipment for children to use while at the MARC in the next few weeks.

We appreciate your patience as we continue to improve our recreation infrastructure across the Municipality.