Nova ScotiaRegional council voted 14-3 Tuesday to give first reading of proposed amendments that would restrict most infilling activities in Dartmouth Cove.’This is what Dartmouth wants on their waterfront,’ said Coun. Sam AustinAnjuli Patil · CBC News · Posted: Sep 24, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours agoThe issue largely stems from a construction company’s plan to dump 100,000 cubic metres of pyritic slate and quarry rock into the cove to create land. (Josh Hoffman/CBC)Halifax regional council has inched closer to prohibiting most infilling activities in Dartmouth Cove, the first step in clearing what the area’s councillor called a “jurisdictional log jam” that has plagued the issue for years.On Tuesday, it voted 12-5 against a staff recommendation to wait for the completion of the Dartmouth waterfront development plan before making any new infilling rules.It voted 14-3 to give first reading of proposed amendments that would restrict most water lot development and infilling in Dartmouth Cove, and schedule a public hearing.”There is strong community sentiment. This is what Dartmouth wants on their waterfront,” said Coun. Sam Austin, who proposed the change. His district of Dartmouth Centre includes the cove.Austin said if there are no rules for infilling in Dartmouth Cove, it would allow property owners in that area to “unilaterally” fill in their water lots.”And then, rather than our waterfront planning … dictating what we want [and] having that community vision come forward — instead we end up responding to individual property decisions.” The less risky option, says AustinThe councillor said it’s not unusual to bring in restrictive amendments in advance of major plans. He said the municipality has to make its stance on the issue clear.”It’s do you want to do this after you’ve done the big planning exercise or before? And I think the before takes a whole lot less risk out of the planning process because the planning process itself is what gets to guide what happens in Dartmouth,” Austin said.Coun. Becky Kent said she supported Austin’s idea.”It’s us taking a stand and saying we want to protect Dartmouth Cove,” Kent said.Mayor Andy Fillmore was one of the three people who voted against Austin’s proposal.”My concerns are two-fold: that we follow good planning process and that we limit legal risk to HRM,” he said.”For me, good planning process means going through the Dartmouth Waterfront Revitalization Plan before I implement any bylaws so that the bylaws can be informed by public consultation and other considerations.”Fillmore said proceeding with bylaws could lead to lengthy and costly legal challenges.ABOUT THE AUTHORAnjuli Patil is a reporter with CBC Nova Scotia’s digital team.
Halifax closer to regulating Dartmouth Cove infilling
