Dartmouth Cove: A major step forward

Over the past month, our community has shown incredible determination and unity. Together, we’ve written letters, attended meetings, and made it clear that Dartmouth Cove deserves protection.

On September 23rd, Halifax Regional Council rejected staff's original recommendation to defer bylaw changes until the Downtown Dartmouth Revitalization Project is completed next year, and instead voted to move forward with Alternative #3 — bylaw amendments modelled after the Northwest Arm protections. This is a major milestone: for the first time, HRM is poised to bring in municipal-level controls that would restrict and manage infilling in Dartmouth Cove.

The next step is a public hearing in October (exact date TBD), where residents will once again have the chance to speak directly to Council before a final vote.

We’ve come a long way. Back in 2022, HRM told us there was nothing they could do about infilling. Today, thanks to community persistence, Council is preparing bylaws that could finally help close the loophole and give Dartmouth Cove the protection it deserves. This move towards bylaw changes will ensure that the hard work done to clean up the harbour and specifically Dartmouth Cove will not be undone. 

This progress would not have been possible without the hard work of our neighbours, supporters, and advocates. Thank you to everyone who has spoken up, we are so close to ensuring long-term protections at the municipal level.

Stay tuned for details on the public hearing, and get ready to add your voice one more time. Together, we will protect Dartmouth Cove for generations to come.