Land Use
The use of land and the urban form that develops to accommodate population growth will directly impact the efficiency of services, the ecological footprint and the quality of life of residents in the Capital Region.
Use existing community nodes
The Capital Region’s existing serviced communities and neighbourhoods can accommodate all anticipated new growth. Capital Region communities should expect a full range of services, such as high quality municipal water, municipally managed waste treatment and recycling, which support a healthy and sustainable urban environment.
Increase density
More compact development, including infill and increased densities, will preserve agricultural land, create more efficient use of municipal services, reduce travel time, make alternative methods of transportation more viable and reduce greenhouse gas production.
Mix land use
Greater integration of where people live, where they work and where they shop will reduce travel time, energy use and greenhouse gas production and can encourage alternative and more active means of transportation (bus, bike, walking, etc.)
Measuring Success
- There is a reduction in the ratio of land per population.
- High quality municipal water and sewer services are available for all new development.
- There are fewer households without a full range of municipal services.
- More people are served per mile of infrastructure (greater efficiency).
- Average travel times and distances are decreasing.
- There is increasing use of alternative transportation methods like walking, cycling and public transit.
Acting on Land Use
- Develop a fundamental understanding of settlement and land use in the Capital Region in order to establish an understanding of the region in areas such as: population density, intensity/efficiency of infrastructure use, mixed land uses, travel distances, amount and quality of agricultural land, services in existing population nodes and other issues related to land use and urban form.
- Begin to define long range regional targets for the issue of land use and urban form.
- Explore best practices for sustainable development in other urban centres.
- All municipalities should engage their regional partners in the review and update of local development plans in a spirit of mutual accountability and respect.