Halifax is taking its second crack at new rules for developing the urban core. The Regional Centre Plan will create clear, fair rules adding density, and easing approvals and requiring better building design. Broad goals include more vibrant neighbourhoods, more sustainable transportation and more people living and working in central Halifax and Dartmouth. These are fantastic goals. I'm excited about…Read More

At first glance, urban is a simple word. Urban refers to the characteristics of towns or cities. Straightforward, right? Maybe. Consider the different uses of the term. Urban sprawl describes low density development with lots of space for cars and separated uses (housing in one area, stores in another, school in a third, etc.). What about suburban…Read More

Our province is slowly dying. What else to conclude from the terrible stats from the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia: One in ten high school students surveyed had attempted suicide Almost one in three teens is overweight or obese Only half of grade eight students met math expectations 18% of young adults are unemployed Nova Scotia…Read More

Hi, Welcome to my new blog -- Social Cities -- on Halifax Bloggers. I'm a professional urban planner. Day in and day out, I work with zoning by-laws and municipal plans. I write reports for councils and committees. I comment on rezonings, variances and plan amendments. I calculate parking requirements and review traffic studies. Lots get re-zoned,…Read More