In November 2008 Raymond Fung, Chair of the Green Infrastructure Partnership (GIP), announced that Vincent Lalonde and John Sidnell will represent the Master Municipal Construction Documents Association (MMCD) on the GIP Steering Committee.
“A problem with conventional subdivision loop and curl street patterns is that they inhibit walking and are disorienting and confusing to pedestrians as well as to drivers. They provide tranquility, safety and security at the expense of connectivity. They control traffic well but often create bottlenecks at peak times in predictable spots. The Fused Grid uses a continuous grid of roads for district and regional connectivity and a discontinuous grid of streets for neighbourhood safety,” stated Fanis Grammenos.
“A consensus is emerging that conventional approaches to suburban development are not sustainable. From a transportation perspective, single-use, low-density residential developments with curvilinear, poorly connected road networks limit transportation options to the point that that private automobile is the only choice for many trips.This increases automobile travel and, as a result, fuel use, emissions and transportation costs. With this in mind, municipalities are re-examining neighbourhood layout and land use concepts,” stated Fanis Grammenos.
A Guide to Green Choices
To help local governments continue the extensive work they have already done in fostering green communities, the Ministry of Community Development has developed “A Guide to Green Choices” to provide practical advice and ideas in making land use decisions.
“A key theme in A Guide to Green Choices is the notion of integration. It stems from a belief that the solid efforts already being made could be even stronger if they work together in the right direction — not at cross-purposes,” stated Laura Tate. This Guide is expected to work in tandem with many other programs and projects already underway, including Living Water Smart and the BC Climate Action Plan. Many of the ideas proposed in this Guide are eligible for funding through various provincial government programs
In the third and final event in the 2008 Showcasing Green Infrastructure Innovation Series, Councillor Vic Derman of the District of Saanich will elaborate on his vision for The Natural City. He will pose the question: “What do we want this place to look like in 50 years, and how will we get from here to there?”
A community of more than 25,000 people, the University of Victoria is a case study for green buildings and compact growth. Over the past five years, UVic has been able to transition from an incremental approach in planning and resource management to a water-centric approach that is much more holistic and integrated –– the new business as usual.
“We featured the east Courtenay area in the first seminar because this part of the city has evolved from fields and forest over the past two decades, and so has our approach to rainwater and stormwater management. We incorporated a walkabout at the front-end of the seminar program so that participants would have a visual frame of reference for concepts that will be covered in the curriculum for the second and third seminars,” stated Kevin Lagan. A key objective is consistency at local front counters so that developers and development consultants hear a consistent message as to what is expected of them.
Westhills is British Columbia's largest LEED-Neighbourhood Development pilot project, with design elements and community initiatives that create and nuture a strong sense of community; and a plan that incorporates leading-edge environmental technologies.
The LEED-ND (Neighbourhood Development) designation is a catalyst for creating socially supportive, healthy neighbourhoods and promoting urban design excellence throughout the public realm in the Westhills Green Community.
