Municipality of the County of Antigonish

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 of, or in 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

Copies of the Staff Reports, providing more detailed information on the proposed amendments, can be inspected at the office of the Antigonish Council Chambers, at 285 Beech Hill Road, between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm weekdays (excluding statutory holidays), on the Eastern District Planning Commission website www.edpc.ca, or by contacting Toll Free 1-888-625-5361.

Posted October 30^th on the County of Antigonish Website and distributed by The Reporter on November 5, 2025 in accordance with the requirements of The Municipal Government Act.

Related Documents:

Staff Report (1)

Staff Report (2)

Staff Report (3)

Staff Report (4)

Municipality of the County of Victoria

In 2018, the Province of Nova Scotia passed legislation through Bill 58 that required every municipality (and all land within the municipalities’ area of responsibility) to be subject to a Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw.

In response, the Municipality of the County of Victoria launched Plan Victoria, a project to develop a new Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw. This project is part of Plan Eastern Nova, a joint initiative with the Counties of Antigonish, Richmond, and Inverness to bring consistent land use planning to Eastern Nova Scotia.

Draft documents are available for public review at the following links:

• Plan Victoria– Municipal Planning Strategy – DRAFT
• Plan Victoria – Land Use By-Law – DRAFT

Printed copies can also be reviewed at:

• Municipal Administration Building, 495 Chebucto St., Baddeck
• Eastern District Planning Commission office, 606 Reeves St., Unit 3, Port Hawkesbury

Next Board meeting:

Date: Thursday November 27th 2025 at 1:00 PM in the Shannon Studio – Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre

This meeting is open to the Public and notice posted in accordance with Section 203 of the Municipal Government Act