Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning
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 Bylaw (LUB), to guide development, support community needs, and meet the province’s mandate for land use planning across Nova Scotia.
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.
The first draftContinue reading
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 Bylaw (LUB), to guide development, support community needs, and meet the province’s mandate for land use planning across Nova Scotia.
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.
The first draft documents were shared with Council and the public on March 13, 2025.
- These were intended as drafts only. They can and will change as we hear from the public over the next few months.
- We are committed to ensuring every property owner in the District knows about this project. We sent a direct letter or postcard to every single resident to advertise the open houses.
- The open houses and Council meetings were also advertised on Facebook, CKBW, in the South Shore Bulletin, in Municipal Matters, in our monthly email newsletter (modl.ca/communication), and on this website.
On March 13, 2025, the draft documents 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.
However, we have heard loud and clear from residents that many have serious concerns with the drafts. The overwhelming majority of comments expressed deep concern over possible restrictions on small scale agriculture. There were also general concerns that the draft documents are too restrictive for the District of Lunenburg.
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: https://www.youtube.com/live/uP1wiDqpcUY?t=936s
Did you miss the meetings? You can watch a presentation below. We expect to bring a What We Heard Report back to Council this fall.
Follow Project
Open Houses and Events
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April 10 2025
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April 11 2025
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April 12 2025
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April 13 2025
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April 14 2025
Information Handouts
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FAQ Handout.pdf (89.1 KB) (pdf)
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All About Municipal Wide Planning.pdf (266 KB) (pdf)
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Minimum Planning Requirements in NS - Guidebook for Municipal Councils in Rural Municipalities (2.05 MB) (pdf)
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Minimum Planning Requirements in NS - Guidebook on Implementing the Statements of Provincial Interest (2 MB) (pdf)
Important Docs (includes Draft #1 - Strategy and By-law)
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Policy and Strategy Home-Based Businesses Documents - July 29 2025
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Policy & Strategy Agriculture Documents - June 17 2025
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Policy & Strategy Drinking Water Documents May 20 2025
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Municipal Planning Strategy - Draft 1
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Municipal Planning Strategy (1.42 MB) (pdf)
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Schedule A - Future Land Use Map (18.1 MB) (pdf)
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Schedule B Village of Hebbville SPS and LUB (38.8 MB) (pdf)
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Schedule C Oakland SPS and LUB (3.74 MB) (pdf)
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Schedule D Riverport and District SPS and LUB (15 MB) (pdf)
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Schedule E Princes Inlet and Area SPS and LUB (67.7 MB) (pdf)
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Schedule G Osprey Village SPS and LUB (43.2 MB) (pdf)
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Schedule H Hemford Forest SPS and LUB (1.12 MB) (pdf)
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Project Timeline
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Introducing the Project - October 2020
Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning has finished this stage -
Initial Public Engagement - 2020/2021
Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning has finished this stage -
Draft Vision and Goals - April 2021
Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning has finished this stage -
Initial What We Heard Report - 2021
Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning has finished this stage -
Create First Draft of the Municipal Planning Strategy & Land Use Bylaw
Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning has finished this stage -
First Draft Released - March 2025
Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning has finished this stage -
Public Engagement on First Draft – April- June 2025
Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning has finished this stage -
Stakeholder Engagement - July 2025
Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning has finished this stage -
Create What We Heard Report - Summer 2025
Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning is currently at this stage -
What We Heard Report Release - October 2025
this is an upcoming stage for Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning -
Create Second Draft - Winter 2025/2026
this is an upcoming stage for Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning -
Release of Second Draft - March 2026
this is an upcoming stage for Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning -
Public Engagement on Second Draft – March-April 2026
this is an upcoming stage for Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning -
Additional drafts and public engagement as needed
this is an upcoming stage for Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning -
Final Review and Adoption of Planning Documents
this is an upcoming stage for Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning -
Review Process
this is an upcoming stage for Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning- a regular review of the planning strategy will allow for a refresh of policies and regulations based on new trends and circumstances
Who's Listening
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Deputy Director of Planning and Development Services
Municipality of the District of Lunenburg
Phone 902-530-2802 Email planning@modl.ca -
JM
Phone (902) 530-2802 Email planning@modl.ca
FAQs
- What is a Municipal Planning Strategy?
- What is a Land Use Bylaw?
- How do I have my say?
- What are the Nova Scotia's Five Provincial Statements of Interest?
- What is zoning and why is it important?
- What is the purpose of the Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and Land Use By-law (LUB)?
- How will the MPS and LUB affect my property?
- How does the MPS and LUB align with provincial regulations?
- Who decides what is included in the MPS and LUB?
- How do I know if my property is affected by zoning changes?
- How can I provide feedback on the MPS and LUB?
- How will zoning and land use regulations affect my property taxes and property values?
- What if I live in an area with an existing Planned Areas with Land-use Bylaw?
- Will I be able to change the zoning of my property in the future?
- Will new regulations force me to change a building or use that is already in place? What is a legal non-conforming structure or use?
- Can these documents be changed in the future?
- What is the expected project timeline?