A decision on the future of Dartmouth Cove has been delayed again; sort of.

On Tuesday, Halifax council voted to defer a recommendation by city staff that would delay creating a bylaw to protect Dartmouth Cove from infilling until there is a solid plan for the waterfront.

The vote was 15-2 for staff to come up with an alternative plan to properly protect the Cove, that council will revisit in two weeks.

If the alternative is put through, there will be eventually be a public hearing.

Mayor Andy Fillmore and Councillor David Hendsbee voted against deferring the recommendation.

Councillor Sam Austin tabled the motion and said Dartmouth Cove is a collective space that people feel an attachment to and requires “the full Northwest Arm treatment“.

“We should not wait on bringing protections in Dartmouth Cove. I want to have the same Northwest Arm style protections for Dartmouth Cove. But we can’t do that, because we don’t have it with us, right? The alternative that staff have drafted is not the full meal deal,” said Austin.

Dartmouth Cove has been a hot topic in the community for years with the threat of infilling the ocean space.

Atlantic Road Construction and Paving wants to dump pyritic slate into it but needs federal approval.

Transport Canada gave the green light but rescinded it last June.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has not yet given the thumbs up.