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The municipality has applied longstanding legislation – S.523 and S.527 of the Local Government Act – and amended its Zoning Bylaw to make a landscaping plan a building permit requirement for every lot in residential zones. “It is fair to characterize the District’s use of S.523 and S.527 as a basis for private property stormwater management and landscaping requirements as ‘cutting edge’,” stated Chris Bishop.

The Green Bylaws Toolkit explains how to use a myriad of tools—from planning to regulatory bylaws—to protect wetlands, grasslands and other important ecosystems in British Columbia.

In January 2004, and due to the leadership of Kevin Lagan, the City of Courtenay was the first BC municipality to adopt a policy requiring developers to provide a minimum soil depth on building sites. The City places importance on the soil sponge and has been exploring options to ensure that developers and house builders fulfil their obligations to provide and preserve the minimum required depth on building sites.

According to Derek Richmond, the City of Courtenay is developing the bylaw through an inclusive and collaborative approach that educates and informs stakeholders. The bylaw is a tool that will assist with getting the “right thing” done to protect the environment from the effects of erosion and sediment.

When UniverCity hosted the third event in Showcasing Green Infrastructure Innovation in Metro Vancouver: The 2007 Series, this provided an opportunity to talk about how lessons learned have been translated into a zoning tool.

The District of Lantzville partnered with the Town of Qualicum Beach, the Town of Gibsons, the Village of Cumberland, the Ministry of Community Services and leaders in the field of low impact development to ensure that the Model Bylaw and standards reflected the most up-to-date, progressive thinking.

Many municipalities and developers in B.C. are emerging as North American leaders in smart growth practices at the regional and local scale. Residents are demanding more choices in housing, and in the quality of neighbourhoods and job opportunities. In recognition of this leadership role, West Coast Environmental Law has developed a comprehensive web-based “Smart Bylaws Guide” to help local governments implement smart growth strategies through policy and bylaw changes.

The District of Lantzville is one of B.C.’s newest municipalities and the first incorporation of the new millennium. A key task is to develop its own policies and, in particular, establish standards for anticipated development. As a coastal community in a semi-rural setting, but also in a growing region, it is important to the community of Lantzville to ensure that future growth adheres to strong environmental standards.