Public Invited to Dartmouth Cove Consultation

Waterfront Development and Halifax Regional Municipality invite the public to share their vision for Dartmouth Cove.

The four-day planning and design workshop, part of comprehensive planning for the Dartmouth Cove area, takes place from Feb. 20 to 24 at the Super 8 Hotel, 65 King St., Dartmouth. The public is welcome to attend and no registration is required.

"Engaging the public is key and will help guide the transition and redevelopment of the area into a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood," said Colin MacLean, president and CEO, Waterfront Development. "The Dartmouth Cove Comprehensive Plan comes at an exciting time for downtown Dartmouth and the waterfront."

The area, which borders Alderney Drive, Portland and Maitland streets and the shoreline, is being revitalized by projects such as King's Wharf, the Harbourwalk Trail and nearby Alderney Landing and the ferry terminal.

As well as the mix of workshops, presentations, drop-in times, and a site tour over the four days, a questionnaire is available for people to share their thoughts.

Mayor Peter Kelly encouraged as many groups and people as possible to attend and contribute to the consultation process.

"Dartmouth Cove will be the setting for a series of bold and imaginative redevelopment initiatives with King's Wharf leading the way," said Mayor Kelly. "What happens here will play a major role in the revitalization and future prosperity of the downtown as a whole."

Consultants from The Planning Partnership, CBCL, and BuildGreen Solutions will help by leading residents, landowners and interested people in a planning and design session.

This project meshes with two leading HRM projects, the Regional Plan 5-Year Review (RP+5) and the HRMbyDesign Centre Plan. Both seek public input to create new policies and bylaws to improve sustainability and HRM communities.

A final report and design plan is expected this spring, after public consultations, background review and detailed analysis of the site and surroundings, research into best practices of comparable mixed-use waterfront developments, and a review of land-use options.

Public consultations will ensure the interests of area landowners are reflected in the plan.

Visit www.my-waterfront.ca/dartmouthcove for the schedule, online questionnaire and session updates.

Waterfront Development is a provincial crown corporation developing the strategic potential of waterfronts in Bedford, Dartmouth, Halifax and Lunenburg. The corporation fosters the creation of waterfronts that drive economic opportunity, enhance tourism, provide experiences and reflect and protects marine heritage.