Learning From the Hubbards Streetscape Project: Implications for Homeowners and Rural HRM Communities
Overview of the Hubbards Streetscape Project
The Hubbards Streetscape Project grew out of community advocacy to make St. Margaret’s Bay Road safer and more inviting for walking and cycling. With no sidewalks and few safe crossing points, residents in the small coastal community of Hubbards, Nova Scotia faced significant road safety challenges. In response, Halifax Regional Council integrated Hubbards into its Rural Active Transportation (AT) program, which aims to bring sidewalks and multi‑use pathways to rural growth centres across the municipality. A community plan, created with help from Upland Planning + Design, outlined the community’s desire for a walkable, interconnected main street.
Policy backdrop
Two pieces of legislation frame how rural sidewalks are planned and paid for in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM):
By‑law S‑300 – Streets By‑law. This by‑law defines a sidewalk and places responsibility for clearing snow, ice and debris on property owners. It requires owners to remove snow and ice from any sidewalk abutting their property within 12 hours of a snowfall and to keep at least 1.6 m clear. Owners must also trim overgrown vegetation and repair any damage they cause to the sidewalk.
Administrative Order 2022‑008‑ADM (Rural Sidewalk Area Rates Administrative Order). This administrative order (AO) sets the area‑rate mechanism HRM uses to fund rural sidewalks and multi‑use paths. It allows the municipality to apply a special tax to properties in rural communities to pay for constructing, operating and maintaining sidewalks and multi‑use paths and related features such as crosswalks, lighting and seating. The AO originally tied the area rate to the difference between urban and rural tax rates (about $0.033 per $100 of assessed value). After engagement with communities like Hubbards, the AO was amended in July 2025 to set a fixed area rate of $0.021 per $100 of taxable assessment.
Lessons from the Hubbards Streetscape Project
1. Strong community advocacy drives change
The Hubbards Streetscape Project shows how grassroots advocacy can influence municipal policy. Residents and business owners formed the Hubbards Streetscape Project committee to advocate for safer active‑transportation infrastructure. Their community plan identified the need for sidewalks, crosswalks and traffic calming. The plan was presented to HRM Council, and the Rural AT program ultimately identified Hubbards as one of the first five communities for sidewalk planning.
2. Public engagement informs taxation decisions
Under the Rural AT program, HRM engaged rural communities to gauge support for the proposed area rate. The Hubbards engagement sessions (held in March 2024) showed strong support for sidewalks and a moderate willingness to pay an area rate. In contrast, other communities such as Porters Lake and Upper Tantallon were opposed. Based on this feedback, Council directed staff to propose a fixed area rate of $0.021 per $100 of assessed property value and to move forward only with communities that demonstrated support. This approach ensures that rural taxpayers paying the area rate have had a say in the decision.
3. Setting a reasonable area rate encourages buy‑in
The amendment to Administrative Order 2022‑008‑ADM replaced the variable rate with a fixed rate of $0.021 per $100 of assessed value, aligned with the estimated maintenance cost of rural sidewalks. The lower rate reduces financial burdens on property owners, encouraging support. For example, under the new rate:
Property assessment x Annual area‑rate cost*
$200,000 ≈ $42
$300,000 ≈ $63
$500,000 ≈ $105
$1 million ≈ $210
*Calculated at $0.021 per $100 of taxable assessment.
These costs are modest compared with urban tax rates and provide a dedicated funding source for sidewalk construction and maintenance. The area rate would be added to tax bills only after the sidewalk is built and would apply to all residential, commercial and resource properties within the designated boundary.
4. Infrastructure funding can foster equity
Rural residents often pay lower general tax rates because they receive fewer municipal services. By establishing a separate area rate for sidewalks, HRM allows rural communities to access infrastructure that improves safety and quality of life while maintaining fairness. The area rate is only levied on communities that will benefit from the infrastructure, ensuring that others are not subsidizing projects they won’t use. This approach also opens doors for provincial or federal funding contributions.
5. A clear legislative framework protects all parties
The combination of By‑law S‑300 and Administrative Order 2022‑008‑ADM outlines responsibilities for both homeowners and the municipality. Homeowners must clear snow and maintain sidewalks; the municipality is responsible for design, construction and ongoing maintenance funded through the area rate. This clarity helps prevent disputes and ensures sidewalks remain safe and accessible.
Impact on Homeowners
Financial contribution. If Council approves an area rate for Hubbards (or another rural community such as Sambro), homeowners will see an additional line on their property tax bill. For a typical home assessed at $300,000, the added cost would be about $63 per year. The fee applies only after sidewalk construction is substantially complete and continues in perpetuity to fund maintenance.
Responsibility for maintenance. Once sidewalks exist, property owners adjacent to them must remove snow and ice, clear debris and trim vegetation according to By‑law S‑300. Failure to do so can result in the municipality performing the work and billing the owner.
Property value and quality of life. Research consistently shows that walkability enhances neighbourhood desirability and can increase property values. Sidewalks provide safer routes to schools, shops and recreation, encourage physical activity and reduce dependence on cars. For children and seniors, sidewalks and marked crosswalks are especially critical for mobility and independence.
Equity considerations. The area rate is applied uniformly across all properties, regardless of income. For homeowners on fixed incomes, even a small additional tax may be challenging. However, the modest rate and potential improvements to safety and accessibility may offset the cost. HRM could consider low‑income tax relief programs to mitigate hardship.
Benefits of Sidewalks for Communities
Safety: Sidewalks separate pedestrians from motor vehicles, reducing the risk of collisions. Crosswalks and curb cuts further enhance safety, particularly for children and people with mobility challenges.
Health and social cohesion: Walkable communities encourage physical activity and casual interactions between neighbours, strengthening community ties and promoting public health.
Economic vitality: A pleasant, pedestrian‑friendly main street can attract visitors and support local businesses. Tourists are more likely to stroll through communities with safe sidewalks, boosting spending at shops and restaurants.
Environmental sustainability: By making it easier to walk or cycle, sidewalks help reduce greenhouse‑gas emissions from short car trips and support HRM’s climate‑action goals.
Accessibility: Sidewalks with curb cuts and proper lighting make public spaces accessible to people using wheelchairs, strollers or mobility aids.
Applying the Lessons to Other Communities like Sambro
Sambro is listed among the 17 candidate rural communities eligible for sidewalks under the Rural AT program. While Hubbards, Lucasville and Musquodoboit Harbour were prioritized first, communities like Sambro can learn from the Hubbards process:
Community organization and advocacy are essential. A clear community plan and sustained advocacy helped Hubbards secure priority for sidewalk funding.
Public engagement influences Council decisions. Demonstrated community support for sidewalks can justify implementation of the area rate, whereas strong opposition may result in deprioritisation.
Understanding the financial implications prepares residents for the area rate. Sambro homeowners should assess the additional $0.021 per $100 tax and weigh it against the benefits of improved safety and connectivity.
Compliance with maintenance responsibilities is critical once sidewalks are installed. Residents must be prepared to clear snow and ice and maintain adjacent greenery, as set out in By‑law S‑300.
Conclusion
The Hubbards Streetscape Project illustrates how rural communities can work with HRM to secure safer, more walkable streets. The amended Administrative Order 2022‑008‑ADM offers a fair, predictable funding model, while By‑law S‑300 ensures sidewalks remain accessible. Although the area‑rate tax will add a small cost to property owners, the broader benefits—safer streets, healthier lifestyles, stronger local economies and more equitable access — suggest that investing in sidewalks is a wise choice for rural communities across HRM.