FALKLAND & BROOK
Proposed Development Community FAQ
Q. What is being proposed for this site?
A 50-unit long-term residential rental building, designed to be accessible, energy-efficient, and community-focused, which consists of two properties (lots) on a former Lunenburg foundry parking lot.
Q. Who is the Development Team?
Jennifer Corson, partner and sr. architect at Solterre Design (an award-winning Halifax-based firm specializing in sustainable architecture), is the project developer for Solterre Inc. With over 35 years of experience, she is a recognized leader in green building design in Atlantic Canada. This project is in partnership with CMHC (mortgage and funding), the Province of NS and private investment.
Q. What is rezoning?
Rezoning is a legal process that changes what a piece of land can be used for or what can be built. It includes public consultation and requires approval from the local government.
Q. Why is it necessary for the property to be rezoned?
Building an a;ordable housing project requires funding partnership with focus on only providing much needed new housing units. The current zoning was designed for a more commercial use that doesn’t reflect today’s housing needs.
• Allow for the front lot (Falkland St) to have the same setbacks (Form Zone Request)as rear lot, to allow for a single building, making amenities and services efficient, and an elevator to services all units on all levels.
• Remove the commercial space requirement on the ground floor, allowing more housing units on that level.
Q. What zoning changes are being requested?
There are two rezoning requests:
1) Form Zone Change:
Changes the front lot to the same Form Zone (setbacks) as the rear lot and allows greater building coverage (from 40% to 48%) on the front lot. NOTE: This will NOT exceed the maximum allowable height for either lot.
2) Use Zone Change:
From (CM) Mixed Use to (CG) General Commercial. This will allow for residential units on the main level removing the requirement for ground-floor commercial space.
Note: Use Zone and Form Zone are separate amendment requests and require individual permissions.
Q. How many homes/units are planned?
The project plans for approximately 50 long term residential rental units, ranging from studios to 3-bedroom units.
Q. Will there be affordable housing?
Yes. At least 30% (16 units) will be designated as affordable housing, with rents priced at least 20% below the median market rate, as required and controlled by CMHC. These will remain as affordable for a minimum of 10 years.
Q. How much will rent be?
For the affordable units, the rental rates will be determined by CMHC, based on a recent market rate study. At least 30% of the homes (16 units) will be designated as affordable housing, with rents priced at least 20% below the median market rate, as defined and monitored by CMHC. These rates are required to be maintained for a 10-year period.
The at-market-rate units (rental rates to be confirmed) will be competitive in the Lunenburg market. For this project to be eligible for CMHC’s Housing Accelerator Fund, a competitive program, this project will need to balance the ability to o;er affordable, accessible and energy-efficient units during one of the most expensive to build periods in Canadian construction history.
Q. What is CMHC and why is it important for this project?
CMHC is the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, a federal agency that supports affordable housing, and initiatives such as the Housing Accelerator Fund, to expedite the construction of the housing across Canada.
For this project, CMHC may provide financing (mortgage) and funding (forgivable loans), allowing this project to provide affordable units and meet national housing goals.
Q. How tall will the building be?
The two lots have different allowable heights. To meet these requirements, our building will have a stepped-down form. The building’s height is consistent with the current Form Zone. We’ve used a step-down design and removed our initial height request after community feedback.
• Rear lot: Up to 63 feet, as permitted under current Marine (MA) Form Zone
• Front lot (Falkland Street): Up to 34 feet, as permitted under current Old Town/NewTown 1 (OTNT1) Form Zone
Q. How much parking will there be?
The project will provide 29 on-site parking spaces, plus one separate designated car-share space for residents, which is counted as a 10-13 car park equivalent by independent studies. Bicycle parking, e-bike charging and other initiatives and partnerships will also be provided to encourage sustainable and active transportation options, reducing dependence on individual tenant car ownership. The central, walkable location will enable many tenants to access work, schools, shops, parks and local amenities on foot, not every household needs or has access to a car. Adding more parking would mean less housing and fewer affordable units — it’s about balance.
Q. How will this development affect traffic?
A traffic study has been completed by a licensed third-party traffic consultant and submitted to Town staff for review. There is expected to have a minor and acceptable level of traffic flow along the Falkland Street corridor. Traffic from 29 parking spaces will generate far fewer trips than most commercial uses the site could otherwise host.
Q. Will infrastructure (water, sewer, electricity) be affected?
The Falkland & Brook project location is centrally located and immediately adjacent to all required Town of Lunenburg servicing.
As requested by Town Planning staff, we have completed detailed assessments by licensed engineers:
• Water & Sewer Servicing
• Stormwater Management
• Electrical Capacity
These reports have been submitted to the Town. In the Fall of 2024, the project team advised were that electrical upgrades will be planned in concert with area improvements by October 2026.
Q. The site is in a floodplain -- is that a problem?
The land is within a designated Flood Risk Area, but mitigation measures are planned to ensure the building meets safety standards and all regulations for flood resilience. This development has been planned to meet the main floor Canadian Geodetic Vertical Datum (CGVD) of 3.4m (10ft), as required by the National Building Code and Land-Use by Law. There will be no basement or underground parking, and all services and utilities essential to the buildings function will be above that elevation.
Q. How will this project affect the working waterfront?
While these lots are adjacent to waterfront properties they are currently zoned Mixed-Use Commercial (CM) and are not currently zoned for Marine Industrial Use (MM), meaning that those businesses are not permitted to operate on these properties. However, the project will support the local workforce, including those working in marine industries, by providing walkable, accessible and affordable housing nearby.
Q. Will this affect Lunenburg’s UNESCO designation?
No. Town staff have reviewed the development and determined it will have no direct negative impact on the World Heritage Site or its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and is outside of the architectural control zone and UNESCO buffer. The proposed mansard-roofed form is a common roof form seen in Lunenburg, amongst gable, gambrel, shed and low-slope roof forms.
Q. What can be built as-of-right?
An as-of-right development is a project that complies fully with existing zoning regulations and does not require special permits or approvals. It allows developers to build without needing public hearings or variances.
Within the current Town of Lunenburg Use and Form Zones, two separate buildings with a total of 38 housing units (only 30 unites being elevator accessible) and 10,000 sf of commercial space could be built. By rezoning the project aims to deliver all units to have elevator access, and be long term housing units, in a smaller building envelope.
Q: Why here and not somewhere else?
This site is in a walkable, serviced area — exactly where governments are encouraging new housing. It’s about smart, compact growth in established community with under-utilized lands.
Q: What about school capacity or town services — can they handle more residents?
Fifty new homes won’t significantly strain existing services but will increase the local tax base and support development of local infrastructure. Population growth does support hopeful new amenities and services improving Lunenburg as a whole!
Q: Won’t property values go down?
Studies across Canada show that well-managed mixed-income housing has no negative impact on property values. In fact, it increases local economic activity.
Q. How can I provide feedback on the rezoning application?
Community voices are always welcome. Although the deadline to be included in the current staff report has passed, you can share your thoughts anytime by emailing communitydev@townoflunenburg.ca
Q. Will there be public consultation or open houses?
A Public Participation Meeting was hosted by the Town, audio recording of that meeting held on October 15 is available here:
Hear Jennifer's presentation on 'Falkland & Brook' to Town Council on September 22, 2025, start at time 2:11.
September 22, 2025 Presentation
The next chance for the public to participate will be at the second reading of the proposed re-zoning at the end of November or early December.
Q. Who can I contact for more information or ask a question?