Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning

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The Municipality has been actively working on municipal-wide land use planning to help shape vibrant, sustainable communities for the future. Launched in 2020, this multi-year project focuses on updating key planning documents, including the Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and Land Use By-law (LUB), to guide development, support community needs, and meet the province’s mandate for land use planning across Nova Scotia. This project is in response to provincial legislation requiring that all municipalities in Nova Scotia introduce land use planning. A key part of this project is introducing zoning for all areas of the municipality, affecting every property. Zoning helps

The Municipality has been actively working on municipal-wide land use planning to help shape vibrant, sustainable communities for the future. Launched in 2020, this multi-year project focuses on updating key planning documents, including the Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and Land Use By-law (LUB), to guide development, support community needs, and meet the province’s mandate for land use planning across Nova Scotia. This project is in response to provincial legislation requiring that all municipalities in Nova Scotia introduce land use planning. A key part of this project is introducing zoning for all areas of the municipality, affecting every property. Zoning helps manage growth, protect important resources, and ensure our communities are thoughtfully planned for the years ahead.

What has happened?

In March 2025, the first draft documents (a draft Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law) were posted as part of the Planning Advisory Committee agenda on the Engage site and distributed to Council and the public. The documents were intended as drafts, to be reviewed and discussed by both the Planning Advisory Committee, Council, and the public over a series of months through extensive public engagement. At the March 25, 2025 Council meeting, Council passed a motion “that Municipal Council direct staff to prepare a second draft of the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law that is less restrictive and closer in line to the mandatory minimum planning requirements outlined in the Municipal Government Act.” You can watch Council's discussion at the meeting here.

Over the spring and summer of 2025, we held dozens of formal and informal events throughout every district. We synthesized what we heard from these events into a What We Heard Report, which you can find here. The findings of the What We Heard Report were presented to Council on October 27, 2025. You can watch this discussion here. During November and December of 2025, staff presented Council with three Direction Reports over four meetings. After several months of continued work, on February 17, 2026, the second draft of the Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and Land Use By-law (LUB) were released to the public. A series of public engagement events followed the release of Draft #2.

Based on input from the public, Council, and the Planning Advisory Committee, planning staff compiled a list of proposed revisions to the second draft. At its May 5, 2026, meeting, the Planning Advisory Committee provided a positive recommendation to Council to approve staff’s proposed revisions to the draft planning documents. The Committee also recommended two additional amendments: prohibiting cluster developments in the Rural Agricultural Potential (RU-2) Zone and removing the two-per-year subdivision limit in the Agricultural Potential Zone to allow the total number of permitted subdivisions to occur at any time.

At a Special Council meeting on May 12, 2026, Council considered the Planning Advisory Committee’s recommendations regarding the direction of the third draft of the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law. Following discussion, Council passed a motion approving the recommendations of the Planning Advisory Committee, including the proposed amendments to the Rural Agricultural Potential (RU-2) Zone.

At its regular meeting on June 9, 2026, Council approved First Reading of Draft #3, a proposed new Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and Municipal-Wide Land Use By-law (LUB). After a public information and a public hearing, Council directed staff to revisit and revise Draft 3 of the Land Use Planning framework in response to public submissions and discussion, particularly regarding the proposed Agriculture Potential Zone. Revisions were presented to Council on July 14, 2026. On July 14, 2026, Municipal Council conducted First Reading of the proposed replacement Municipal Planning Strategy and new Municipal-Wide Land Use By-Law (Draft #4). On July 29, 2026, Council conducted Second Reading of the planning documents.

  • Direction Report #1

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    On October 27, staff presented a What We Heard Report to Council on the public input on Draft 1 of the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law.

    Three Council Direction Reports will be coming to Council in November and December. The first meeting is this Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at 1pm. You can read the report in the Documents widget. Watch the session on YouTube.

    This first Council Direction Report provides an overview of several key topics that generated notable public feedback, either contentious or strongly supported, during the engagement period. Each section includes an overview of the issue, a summary of public, stakeholder, and Council feedback (from previous discussions), and policy direction options for Council’s consideration.
    This report covers the following topics:


    󠁯•󠁏󠁏 Livestock Operations
    󠁯•󠁏󠁏 Agricultural Land Protection
    󠁯•󠁏󠁏 Home-Based Businesses
    󠁯•󠁏󠁏 Recreational Vehicles
    󠁯•󠁏󠁏 Campgrounds and RV Parks
    󠁯•󠁏󠁏 Inland Watercourses
    󠁯•󠁏󠁏 Inland Wetlands


    In the coming weeks, additional Council workshops will also be held, discussing other topics that focus on zoning and other land-use related issues. The purpose of these reports is to support informed decision-making by identifying where policy adjustments may be warranted before preparing Draft 2 of the MPS and LUB.


    Staff have outlined several options for each topic from which Council may provide direction to guide the preparation of Draft 2, anticipated for release in February 2026. This will be followed by a final round of public information sessions prior to adoption and submission to the province for final approval.


    On October 27, staff presented a What We Heard Report to Council on the public input on Draft 1 of the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law.

    Three Council Direction Reports will be coming to Council in November and December. The first meeting is this Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at 1pm. You can read the report in the Documents widget. Watch the session on YouTube.

    This first Council Direction Report provides an overview of several key topics that generated notable public feedback, either contentious or strongly supported, during the engagement period. Each section includes an overview of the issue, a summary of public, stakeholder, and Council feedback (from previous discussions), and policy direction options for Council’s consideration.
    This report covers the following topics:


    󠁯•󠁏󠁏 Livestock Operations
    󠁯•󠁏󠁏 Agricultural Land Protection
    󠁯•󠁏󠁏 Home-Based Businesses
    󠁯•󠁏󠁏 Recreational Vehicles
    󠁯•󠁏󠁏 Campgrounds and RV Parks
    󠁯•󠁏󠁏 Inland Watercourses
    󠁯•󠁏󠁏 Inland Wetlands


    In the coming weeks, additional Council workshops will also be held, discussing other topics that focus on zoning and other land-use related issues. The purpose of these reports is to support informed decision-making by identifying where policy adjustments may be warranted before preparing Draft 2 of the MPS and LUB.


    Staff have outlined several options for each topic from which Council may provide direction to guide the preparation of Draft 2, anticipated for release in February 2026. This will be followed by a final round of public information sessions prior to adoption and submission to the province for final approval.

  • What We Heard Report Presented to Council

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    Municipal-wide Land Use Planning Update

    On October 27, staff presented a What We Heard Report to Council. You can read the report here, or watch the presentation here. Throughout the month of November, Council will meet to provide input and direction to staff on their priorities for the second drafts of the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law.

    Using the input provided by Council, a second draft will be written during January 2026, which is scheduled to be released to the public in February 2026. During March 2026, we will be bringing the Second Draft back out to the public. Stay tuned for regular updates on our work, and be sure to sign up for our email list at https://engage.modl.ca/modl2040 to receive email updates.


    Municipal-wide Land Use Planning Update

    On October 27, staff presented a What We Heard Report to Council. You can read the report here, or watch the presentation here. Throughout the month of November, Council will meet to provide input and direction to staff on their priorities for the second drafts of the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law.

    Using the input provided by Council, a second draft will be written during January 2026, which is scheduled to be released to the public in February 2026. During March 2026, we will be bringing the Second Draft back out to the public. Stay tuned for regular updates on our work, and be sure to sign up for our email list at https://engage.modl.ca/modl2040 to receive email updates.


  • Upcoming Council Meeting on What We Heard Report Findings

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    At a special Council Meeting on Monday, October 27, 2025, planning staff will present a summary of the What We Heard Report for the Municipal-wide Land Use Planning Project (MODL2040). The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and will be held in Council Chambers at the Municipal Office located at 10 Allee Champlain Dr., Cookville. The meeting will also be streamed live on the Municipality’s YouTube page which can be accessed by clicking on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/@modlnovascotia/streams.

    The What We Heard Report represents the findings gathered during the public engagement period that took place between March and August 2025 on the Municipal-wide Land Use Planning Project, following the release of the first drafts on March 13, 2025. This session is intended for information and discussion purposes. Additional workshops with Council will take place over the coming months to discuss the content of the second drafts.

    Council meetings are open to the public, and any interested residents are encouraged to attend.

    You can read the summary or the full report in the Important Docs section on the right side of this page.

    At a special Council Meeting on Monday, October 27, 2025, planning staff will present a summary of the What We Heard Report for the Municipal-wide Land Use Planning Project (MODL2040). The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and will be held in Council Chambers at the Municipal Office located at 10 Allee Champlain Dr., Cookville. The meeting will also be streamed live on the Municipality’s YouTube page which can be accessed by clicking on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/@modlnovascotia/streams.

    The What We Heard Report represents the findings gathered during the public engagement period that took place between March and August 2025 on the Municipal-wide Land Use Planning Project, following the release of the first drafts on March 13, 2025. This session is intended for information and discussion purposes. Additional workshops with Council will take place over the coming months to discuss the content of the second drafts.

    Council meetings are open to the public, and any interested residents are encouraged to attend.

    You can read the summary or the full report in the Important Docs section on the right side of this page.

  • Thank you

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    Thank you

    Thank you to everyone who participated in our public engagement activities on municipal-wide land use planning over the past several months. We have now officially wrapped this phase of public engagement. Whether we heard from you through a Facebook comment or an open house, we appreciate your time and your thoughts on this work.


    A recap of the past few months

    The Municipality has been working on drafting property regulations for the District, as required by the province. As many of you know, the first drafts of a municipal-wide Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law were released in March 2025. These documents were the Municipality’s first attempt at creating a proposed planning framework for the District.


    The release sparked a lot of conversation about the content of the drafts and what they would mean for residents and as a result, we heard from many of you throughout the process and gathered a significant amount of feedback.


    Our engagement activities included town hall sessions, numerous open houses, a survey, stakeholder workshops and more across every district. Since April, we have received feedback from hundreds of residents across the entire Municipality.


    So… What’s next?

    We are actively working on compiling and summarizing your insights into a What We Heard Report that will be presented to Council and the public in October. Following the release of this report, and throughout the month of November, Council will meet to provide input and direction to staff on their priorities for the second drafts of the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law.


    Using the input provided by Council, a second draft will then be written during early 2026, which is scheduled to be released to the public in March 2026. During March and April, we will be looking for your input again on specific aspects of the second draft. Stay tuned for regular updates on our work! We have updated the project timeline on this webpage.

    Thank you

    Thank you to everyone who participated in our public engagement activities on municipal-wide land use planning over the past several months. We have now officially wrapped this phase of public engagement. Whether we heard from you through a Facebook comment or an open house, we appreciate your time and your thoughts on this work.


    A recap of the past few months

    The Municipality has been working on drafting property regulations for the District, as required by the province. As many of you know, the first drafts of a municipal-wide Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law were released in March 2025. These documents were the Municipality’s first attempt at creating a proposed planning framework for the District.


    The release sparked a lot of conversation about the content of the drafts and what they would mean for residents and as a result, we heard from many of you throughout the process and gathered a significant amount of feedback.


    Our engagement activities included town hall sessions, numerous open houses, a survey, stakeholder workshops and more across every district. Since April, we have received feedback from hundreds of residents across the entire Municipality.


    So… What’s next?

    We are actively working on compiling and summarizing your insights into a What We Heard Report that will be presented to Council and the public in October. Following the release of this report, and throughout the month of November, Council will meet to provide input and direction to staff on their priorities for the second drafts of the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law.


    Using the input provided by Council, a second draft will then be written during early 2026, which is scheduled to be released to the public in March 2026. During March and April, we will be looking for your input again on specific aspects of the second draft. Stay tuned for regular updates on our work! We have updated the project timeline on this webpage.

  • Policy & Strategy Home-Based Businesses Discussion - July 24, 2025

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    At the upcoming Policy and Strategy Committee meeting, there will be a discussion on home-based businesses (HBBs) as they relate to land use planning. This is part of the Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning initiative and follows previous discussions on drinking water protection and agriculture.

    This meeting will be held on July 29, 2025 in the Municipal Office Council Chambers. Staff will present information about the topic, followed by a discussion by the committee. No decisions will be made, as the session is intended for information and discussion purposes only. Policy and Strategy Committee meetings are always open to the public and are also streamed live on the Municipality's YouTube page(External link).

    Date: Tuesday, July 29, 2025

    Time: Expected to start sometime after 1:00 p.m.

    Location: Municipal Office Council Chambers

    For more information about the project, you can view the staff report here and the slides here that the committee will be reviewing.

    If you have questions or need clarification about this item or the project, contact us at planning@modl.ca(External link) or 902-530-2802.

    Thank you.

    At the upcoming Policy and Strategy Committee meeting, there will be a discussion on home-based businesses (HBBs) as they relate to land use planning. This is part of the Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning initiative and follows previous discussions on drinking water protection and agriculture.

    This meeting will be held on July 29, 2025 in the Municipal Office Council Chambers. Staff will present information about the topic, followed by a discussion by the committee. No decisions will be made, as the session is intended for information and discussion purposes only. Policy and Strategy Committee meetings are always open to the public and are also streamed live on the Municipality's YouTube page(External link).

    Date: Tuesday, July 29, 2025

    Time: Expected to start sometime after 1:00 p.m.

    Location: Municipal Office Council Chambers

    For more information about the project, you can view the staff report here and the slides here that the committee will be reviewing.

    If you have questions or need clarification about this item or the project, contact us at planning@modl.ca(External link) or 902-530-2802.

    Thank you.

  • The Public Input Survey Closes Soon!

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    We want to hear from you! Provide your input on the Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning Project by completing the Public Input Survey before it closes on Friday, July 11. Your responses will be incorporated into a What We Heard Report that will be presented to Council in the coming months and will help shape the future of MODL. Please find the survey by clicking on this Link or by clicking where it says 'Public Input Survey' on this page.

    We want to hear from you! Provide your input on the Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning Project by completing the Public Input Survey before it closes on Friday, July 11. Your responses will be incorporated into a What We Heard Report that will be presented to Council in the coming months and will help shape the future of MODL. Please find the survey by clicking on this Link or by clicking where it says 'Public Input Survey' on this page.

  • Policy & Strategy Agriculture Discussion - June 17, 2025

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    At the upcoming Policy and Strategy Committee meeting, there will be a discussion on agricultural lands and uses as they relate to land use planning. This includes discussions about small-scale farms and numbers of animals. This is part of the Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning initiative and follows a previous discussion on drinking water protection.

    This meeting will be held on June 17, 2025 in the Municipal Office Council Chambers. Staff will present information about the topic, followed by a discussion by the committee. No decisions will be made, as the session is intended for information and discussion purposes only. Policy and Strategy Committee meetings are always open to the public and are also streamed live on the Municipality's YouTube page.

    Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2025

    Time: Expected to start sometime after 1:00 p.m.

    Location: Municipal Office Council Chambers

    For more information about the project, you can view the staff report here and the slides here that the committee will be reviewing.

    If you have questions or need clarification about this item or the project, contact us at planning@modl.ca or 902-530-2802.

    Thank you.

    At the upcoming Policy and Strategy Committee meeting, there will be a discussion on agricultural lands and uses as they relate to land use planning. This includes discussions about small-scale farms and numbers of animals. This is part of the Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning initiative and follows a previous discussion on drinking water protection.

    This meeting will be held on June 17, 2025 in the Municipal Office Council Chambers. Staff will present information about the topic, followed by a discussion by the committee. No decisions will be made, as the session is intended for information and discussion purposes only. Policy and Strategy Committee meetings are always open to the public and are also streamed live on the Municipality's YouTube page.

    Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2025

    Time: Expected to start sometime after 1:00 p.m.

    Location: Municipal Office Council Chambers

    For more information about the project, you can view the staff report here and the slides here that the committee will be reviewing.

    If you have questions or need clarification about this item or the project, contact us at planning@modl.ca or 902-530-2802.

    Thank you.

Page last updated: 05 Aug 2026, 06:06 AM