The Eastern District Planning Commission

provides planning, subdivision and building inspection services in eastern Nova Scotia for the Counties of Antigonish, Inverness, Richmond, and Victoria and the Towns of Port Hawkesbury and Antigonish. The planners, development officers, building inspectors and support staff work toward developing a safe and healthy community for you and your family. For more information on the application and permitting processes see below.

Plan Area Notices

Municipality of Antigonish County

Notice of Public Hearing

West River Antigonish Harbour and Central Antigonish Plan Areas

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT the Council of the Municipality of the County of Antigonish intends to consider and, if deemed advisable:

1. Rezone a portion of PID 01231182 at #720 Walsh Post Road, in Fairmont, from Rural General to Tourist Commercial. The purpose of the rezoning is to allow for the construction of five tourist cabins at the back of the property.
2. Amend the Land Use By-law to update the setback requirements for utility-scale wind turbines in accordance with new provincial regulations. The purpose of the proposed amendment is to amend the Antigonish County Land Use By-law to align with new provincial regulations for wind turbine setbacks, limiting the required distance to four times the turbine height. The proposed amendment also amends setback requirements from public highways and watercourses and clarifies the definition of “public road”.
3. Amend the West River Antigonish Harbour and Central Antigonish Plan Area Municipal Planning Strategies, Land Use By-laws, Generalized Future Land Use Maps, and Zoning Maps to incorporate updated floodplain mapping and related policies and regulations. The purpose of the proposed amendments is to amend the Municipal Planning Strategy, Land-Use By-law, Generalized Future Land Use Map, and Zoning Map for the West River Antigonish Harbour and Central Antigonish Plan Areas to reflect new flood mapping completed through the South/West Primary Watershed Flood Mapping Study. The study found that areas within these plan areas are vulnerable to flooding under current and future climate conditions, with increased risks from rainfall, storm surge, and sea level rise.
4. Enter into a Development Agreement to permit Grouped Quadplexes on a Single Lot, to be registered against four new parcels from PID 10132611 and Grouped Dwellings on a Single Lot (to be consolidated) for PIDs 10137099, 10137115, and 10137131, Antigonish Landing. The purpose of the Development Agreement is to allow the development of multiple quadplex-style residential buildings within the Antigonish Landing area. Through two development agreements, S. F. Smith Retirement Living Inc. proposes to construct a total of 52 units across PID 10132611, and on a consolidated parcel of three existing lots (PIDs 10137099, 10137115, and 10137131).

Any written or oral presentations (in favour or opposition) to the proposed recommendations can be made before Municipal Council at a Public Hearing to be held on:

Date:         Tuesday November 18^th, 2025
Time:         7:30 p.m.
Location:  Council Chambers, 285 Beech Hill Road, Antigonish County

Plan Eastern Nova is a project to create a Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and Land Use Bylaw (LUB) for all areas of the Municipalities of Antigonish, Inverness, Richmond and Victoria Counties that currently do not have planning documents in place.

Plan documents have been approved for Antigonish, Inverness, Richmond and Victoria Counties. Check the Plan Documents page to view the documents and maps.

Check project news at the Plan Eastern Nova website.

Current Staff Reports