The main role of planning is to ensure that a quality living environment is maintained for communities. Planning identifies opportunities for, as well as constraints to, development. It is a way to decide how land will be used in the future based on the communities' needs and interests.

Community aspirations are determined through interaction with Council, surveys and meetings with the public. Goals of a community are manifested in a Municipal Planning Strategy. The accompanying Land Use Bylaw sets out where certain kinds of development (houses, businesses, farms, etc.) can take place. The Land Use Bylaw also establishes certain standards - for example; lot size, building height, types of advertising signs or the amount of parking required.

Land Use Bylaws do put some control on the use of land, but most people agree that the benefits outweigh the costs. Some of the benefits include the following:

• Separating certain types of development which don't mix well, so that, for example, a salvage yard doesn't locate in the middle of a group of homes.
• Protect streams and lakes from pollution.
• Perhaps most important, Zoning can give local residents considerable control over future development in their community through public notification and public hearings.

The main goals of these Zoning Regulations are as follows:

• To encourage residential, commercial and industrial development to occur in a manner which complements the rural character and natural beauty of the area.
• To preserve environmental quality, particularly with respect to ground water supplies for household use.
• To maintain, improve and expand municipal services and facilities to acceptable standards to an extent which the Municipality can afford.

Some issues that are addressed in the Planning Documents include the following:

• Home Businesses
• Advertising Signs
• Housing
• Sewer and Water
• Forestry and Agricultural Uses
• Industry
• Environment

Planning Documents

Central Antigonish County Planning Area
District #5, District #6 and District #7 (excluding Bayfield & Afton)

• Interim Municipal Planning Strategy
• Interim Land Use Bylaw

Antigonish County (Fringe Area) Planning Area
District #2 (North Grant, Sylvan Valley & Cloverville), District #4 and District #10

• Municipal Planning Strategy
• Land Use Bylaw

Eastern Antigonish County Planning Area
District #7 (Bayfield & Afton), District #8 and District #9

• Municipal Planning Strategy
• Land Use Bylaw

Keppoch Beaver Mountain Planning Area

• Municipal Planning Strategy
• Land Use Bylaw

Note: These documents can be viewed on the Eastern District Planning Commission website.

Land Use Planning (SNSMR - Municipal Services)

Resource Documents & Information Bulletins - Land-use Planning

Please note: This symbol denotes a link to an external website.