News Release Archive
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS--MINISTER RELEASES PLANNING ACT WORKING PAPER ----------------------------------------------------------------- Municipal Affairs Minister Sandy Jolly today released a paper entitled The Planning Act - A Working Paper in Legislative Form. It represents the next step in reviewing Nova Scotia's Planning Act. The working paper reflects many of the ideas received in response to the February, 1995 discussion paper on Rethinking the Planning Act. Major changes to the act were last made about a decade ago. The planning act allows municipal councils to make decisions about the subdivision, use and development of land through zoning, development agreements and other mechanisms. Copies of The Planning Act - A Working Paper in Legislative Form are on their way to all Nova Scotia municipalities and to numerous groups and individuals. "The working paper is in the form of a redrafted act," the minister said. "It includes much of the intent of the existing act, but effort went into writing a more readable document. This included restructuring the act, removing repetition and simplifying language." The working paper suggests that the province adopt broad statements of provincial interest in the use and development of land concurrent with the proclamation of new planning legislation. The working paper package includes five draft statements, addressing drinking water, agricultural land, flood risk areas, housing and infrastructure. They provide examples of some issues and content that statements of provincial interest might address. The working paper's premise is that provincial and municipal decisions on development and the use of land be reasonably consistent with adopted statements of provincial interest. The working paper proposes several new planning tools for use by municipal government. These include: enabling municipal councils to provide for off-site charges in subdivision by-laws, provisions allowing site plan approval, procedures for setting up road reserves, and provisions enabling municipal councils to allow garden suites for senior citizens. A full range of views, some conflicting, were received in response to last year's discussion paper, the minister said. She said in preparing the working paper the department tried to keep in mind the goal identified in the earlier discussion paper, to ensure a future planning system that is fair, open and responsive; effective in terms of time, cost and results; respectful of the principles of sustainable development; and streamlined, with municipal decision making enhanced within a clearly defined provincial framework. "We look forward to hearing from people interested in planning issues," said the minister. "Do they support the changes proposed in the Working Paper? Are we on the right track? What would they suggest to improve it." The department will receive submissions up to April 30. Submissions should be sent to: The Planning Act Review, Department of Municipal Affairs, Box 216, Halifax, B3J 2M4; or fax comments to 424-0821. The department may also be contacted via the Internet at planact@gov.ns.ca; or by telephoning 1-800-478-7406 (toll free) to record comments or to request a copy of the working paper. -30- Contact: Ron Simpson 902-424-3980 trp Feb. 23, 1996 - 11:30 a.m.