Halifax

ed people once they’re here, and we’re a very cost-effective place to do business relative to other cities in North America and the world.” While Hanlon and the Halifax Partnership are busy selling Halifax’s advantages and amenities to prospective new businesses and residents, Bob Bjerke, the city’s Chief Planner is making sure that the municipality can live up to the sales pitch. And since coming on board in 2014, Bjerke has overseen several new plans and ini- tiatives that are helping to drive some changes in the way Halifax develops. The Centre Plan, now under development, is a land-use planning solution, designed to direct regional growth and sustainable development in Halifax’s downtown areas. “We’ve seen more development in the center of the municipality,” says Bjerke. “And a lot more focus on residential development downtown and in the regional center.” The Integrated Mobility Plan focuses on shifting HRM’s transportation demand to- ward transit and active transportation modes in support of more integrated land-use and transportation planning. “This is something we haven’t done in a long time,” Bjerke says, “tak- ing a comprehensive look at our transportation network in a way that reflects the way we want to grow into the future. This is going to drive where we see our investments happening and how we support the fact that in the center of the city, we’ve got 50 percent of the people who walk or bike to work, which is a very attractive feature for people looking to relocate to urban spaces.” Halifax also has a Community Energy Plan, and the municipality has done a lot of work on its own facilities, including a geothermal system which is the first, large-scale use of a season- al coldwater energy source. Bjerke explains: HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA