Planning for the future
New Minas identified as key area for urban growth in Kings Co.
Work is underway to plot out how future growth could unfold in New Minas.
“New Minas would be the biggest growth centre that we have in the county, and it continues to grow,” said
Jim Winsor, a Kings County councillor in District 8 (New Minas – Greenwich) and chairman of the New Minas Secondary Planning Strategy Working Group.
The Municipality of the County of Kings has teamed up with the Village of New Minas for a “Vision New Minas” project involving the preparation of a secondary plan that will outline how future developments and expansions could take shape within the Annapolis Valley’s service centre.
“New Minas just celebrated its 50th birthday… two years ago and the land in New Minas has been virtually all used up,” said Winsor.
The strategic planning process is a preliminary step that will provide a policy direction touching on a number of topics, including new investments in Commercial Street, quality housing projects, the protection of natural resources, additions of infrastructure for expansions requiring municipal services, transportation-related needs and future development of properties located south of Highway 101.
“This project is an excellent opportunity for residents and community members to really think about their hopes and goals for the community,” said Kings County’s mayor, Peter Muttart, in a November
2020 news release announcing the Vision New Minas project.
Winsor said the project will provide strategic planning in the areas of commercial and residential developments, as well as the preservation of some natural resources and promotion of recreational spaces.
“The development plan will make sure that we are factoring in what’s important to us, to the people of New Minas, what’s important for a modern community, (and) how are we planning for that,” he said.
Upland Planning + Design is managing the project, which will include a series of studies and some public consultation components. The technical studies will explore the topics of services (water, sewer, drainage), market demand, urban design and active transportation and traffic.
“New Minas is a place where a lot can happen going forward,” said Winsor.
New Minas is regularly
lauded as a shopping district, but Winsor wants it to be viewed as a great place to live, shop and play in the future.
“It will give us, perhaps, a revised identity,” he said.
There is a lot of land that will be available for development south of Highway 101 from the new Granite Drive connector, said Winsor.
“It’s in an area that does not conflict with agriculture… so it’s great for urban growth.”
He said the demand-based growth is expected to occur in phases once the necessary preliminary work outlining how the available land can be developed is completed.
“It is a way’s out before we see something happen, but it could be closer than we think.”
The project timeline estimates that the final draft plan could be ready in the fall of 2021.
The Municipality of the County of Kings sees the potential to develop a subcommunity south of Highway 101, Winsor said.
“Things could move slower or faster depending on the demand but we, as a county, want to be ready.”