Main Street Coastal Protection

Background

The Town of Mahone Bay is moving forward with the next phase of coastal planning to help our shoreline adapt to climate change and build long-term community resilience. Coastal challenges like sea level rise and other hazards affect the entire waterfront, so no one property owner should have to manage them alone. Because coastal protection methods on one property can affect neighbouring properties, the Town of Mahone Bay, with funding support from the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities, aims to create a shared approach to coastal protection.

This work builds on coastal infrastructure projects already completed or underway along the waterfront, including the Edgewater Street renewal project, the Living Shorelines project, recent updates to the Town's Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law (LUB) and the next steps for the Ernst Brook areas following the recent seawall study.


About the Project

Mahone Bay's waterfront is at the heart of our town, and the Town has been working to keep it strong for generations to come. Projects like the Edgewater Street renewal and Living Shorelines, along with new coastal policies in the Town's updated Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw, are already making our shoreline more resilient to sea level rise, storm surge and erosion.

This project shares that work with the community and looks at what comes next. It starts with a public information session. Residents, businesses and visitors can come to learn about recent coastal projects, what the new planning rules mean, and what's planned for the years ahead.

We'll also be reaching out to property owners along Main Street, where much of the waterfront is privately owned. Through one-on-one conversations and a dedicated workshop, we hope to explore ways neighbours can work together, alongside the Town, on solutions that protect everyone's property. Working as a group can also open the door to potential funding opportunities that could help share the cost and reduce the impacts on individual landowners.

This project is supported by the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities' Coastal Planning Support Program, with help from UPLAND Planning + Design.


Get Involved:

Join us at an upcoming public engagement session to learn how updated coastal regulations may affect your property, ask questions, and share your ideas for protecting the waterfront.

Public Information Session

  • Date & Time: Thursday, October 8, 6:30 PM
  • Location: Parish Hall (14 Parish Street)
  • Who it’s for: Open to the entire community
  • Learn about recent coastal projects and regulation changes, discover why proactive coastal planning matters, and find out what coastal measures are expected in the coming years.

Landowner Workshop

  • Date & Time: Later in October (date to be confirmed)
  • Location: (location to be confirmed)
    Who it’s for: Landowners along Main Street.
  • Discuss issues affecting the waterfront and explore ways to collaborate on shoreline protection. Registration is required. Please email the project team at consultation@uplandstudio.ca to receive the final date, time and location.

One-On-One Conversations

  • Date and Time: Anytime. Scheduled at your convenience.
  • Who it’s for: Open to the entire community.
  • If you would like to discuss coastal planning in more detail, ask questions about the regulations affecting your property, or learn more about the project, feel free to reach out to the UPLAND team to set up a conversation. Email the team at: consultation@uplandstudio.ca

Background

The Town of Mahone Bay is moving forward with the next phase of coastal planning to help our shoreline adapt to climate change and build long-term community resilience. Coastal challenges like sea level rise and other hazards affect the entire waterfront, so no one property owner should have to manage them alone. Because coastal protection methods on one property can affect neighbouring properties, the Town of Mahone Bay, with funding support from the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities, aims to create a shared approach to coastal protection.

This work builds on coastal infrastructure projects already completed or underway along the waterfront, including the Edgewater Street renewal project, the Living Shorelines project, recent updates to the Town's Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law (LUB) and the next steps for the Ernst Brook areas following the recent seawall study.


About the Project

Mahone Bay's waterfront is at the heart of our town, and the Town has been working to keep it strong for generations to come. Projects like the Edgewater Street renewal and Living Shorelines, along with new coastal policies in the Town's updated Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw, are already making our shoreline more resilient to sea level rise, storm surge and erosion.

This project shares that work with the community and looks at what comes next. It starts with a public information session. Residents, businesses and visitors can come to learn about recent coastal projects, what the new planning rules mean, and what's planned for the years ahead.

We'll also be reaching out to property owners along Main Street, where much of the waterfront is privately owned. Through one-on-one conversations and a dedicated workshop, we hope to explore ways neighbours can work together, alongside the Town, on solutions that protect everyone's property. Working as a group can also open the door to potential funding opportunities that could help share the cost and reduce the impacts on individual landowners.

This project is supported by the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities' Coastal Planning Support Program, with help from UPLAND Planning + Design.


Get Involved:

Join us at an upcoming public engagement session to learn how updated coastal regulations may affect your property, ask questions, and share your ideas for protecting the waterfront.

Public Information Session

  • Date & Time: Thursday, October 8, 6:30 PM
  • Location: Parish Hall (14 Parish Street)
  • Who it’s for: Open to the entire community
  • Learn about recent coastal projects and regulation changes, discover why proactive coastal planning matters, and find out what coastal measures are expected in the coming years.

Landowner Workshop

  • Date & Time: Later in October (date to be confirmed)
  • Location: (location to be confirmed)
    Who it’s for: Landowners along Main Street.
  • Discuss issues affecting the waterfront and explore ways to collaborate on shoreline protection. Registration is required. Please email the project team at consultation@uplandstudio.ca to receive the final date, time and location.

One-On-One Conversations

  • Date and Time: Anytime. Scheduled at your convenience.
  • Who it’s for: Open to the entire community.
  • If you would like to discuss coastal planning in more detail, ask questions about the regulations affecting your property, or learn more about the project, feel free to reach out to the UPLAND team to set up a conversation. Email the team at: consultation@uplandstudio.ca
Page last updated: 25 Sep 2026, 09:23 AM