Shaping Your Neighbourhood Building a Core Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan Nov. 25 & 26, 2006
Welcome! Peter Russell Planner, Holland Barrs Planning Group Inc. Role in this project: Work with the City, United Way & other stakeholders to develop a Core Sustainability Action Plan Speak today about Sustainability Discuss examples of sustainable neighbourhoods Lead a community mapping workshop
Neighbourhood Overview Total Population (2001): 4430 Average Income: $26,680 Average Household Size: 1.8 persons Area: 142.3 hectares Largely defined by older character homes Some apartment and high rise towers Home to the Hospital & Police HQ 11 th Ave. shopping area
Overall Goals & Objectives Bring community members and stakeholders together to learn from each other Develop an innovative Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan Co-ordinate current and on-going activities and research (i.e. ANC & CPTED analysis) To be a model for neighbourhood planning in Regina
Process Overview
What is a Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan? Involves and includes input from neighbourhood residents and stakeholders (i.e City. of Regina, United Way, Prov. & Fed gov t agencies, businesses, service providers, etc.) Takes a comprehensive view looks at all issues (housing, crime, services, jobs, environment, transportation, etc.) Includes strategies that contribute to short term positive change and long term success
What is Sustainability?! A simple way to understand it Sustain Keep alive, healthy, vibrant Resilient, robust, surviving overtime in a healthy way ability How able something can be sustained how much $$$, energy, time, management, maintenance etc. is required! Sustainability: Long term well-being
What is Sustainability?! A more complicated way to understand it United Nations Definition: Brundtland Report, 1987: Study on relationships between the economy and environment Conclusion: Current directions will weaken the planet s life support systems and permanently exhaust the Earth s precious resources
What is Sustainability?! A more complicated way to understand it United Nations Definition of sustainability : Meeting the needs of today s generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs Or What type of neighbourhood and world do you want to live in and how can we make sure our children can live in the same type of place when they have grown up?
What is Sustainability?! A more complicated way to understand it Key Points: Economic, social and environmental health are interdependent We should pursue multiple objectives Consider longer time lines (50-100 years)
What is does this mean?! Choices we make today must consider limits (Environment, society/people, $$$, etc.) Choices we make today about Core and Regina need to consider the long term (not just the short term ) Choices need to factor in social, environmental and economic considerations in a creative way
What is does this mean?! The essence of sustainability : Sustainability is about hope hoping for a better today and future & taking action, collectively, to make that happen!
How is this concept applied to a neighbourhood such as Core? Let s start by considering Today s Concerns AND What the Future Holds
Today s concerns Quality and stability of housing stock
Today s concerns Crime, vandalism and safety concerns
Today s concerns Neighbourhood parking issues
Today s concerns Confusions about a neighbourhood identity
Today s concerns Uncertain about how to connect with other neighborhood residents
What the future holds Energy: Rising costs, resource scarcity, increased pollution and emissions contributing to climate change; interest in alternative energy
What the future holds Health & Safety: Aging population leads to higher health care costs; gap between rich & poor increasingly causing concerns for safety (crime, etc.)
What the future holds Housing: Construction costs are rising quickly, current stock is aging and expensive to maintain
What the future holds Land: Limited supply of available land and its more expensive to grow outwards cities begin looking inward for new development (infill) St. joe s site (PH I) pic under constuction
What the future holds Communities: Stress and pollution inspire citizens to take action on health, more asked of Gov t & developers
How is this concept applied to a neighbourhood such as Core? Given these issues and the future, what strategies will: Consider limits (Earth, people, $$$, etc.) Work over the long term Factor in social, environmental and economic considerations in a creative way
We re lucky Other have tried this! and, There s an expression if we want to know how to live more sustainably, we just have to look back 100 years
Sustainable Neighbourhoods Compact, complete, mixed-use communities: Live, work, play, learn, shop in one neighbourhood Save land for other uses (natural area, agriculture, etc.)
Sustainable Neighbourhoods Reducing dependence on automobile: Increase viability of walking & cycling Increase/improve options for getting around
Sustainable Neighbourhoods Integrate ecosystems into community design Greenways Urban parks
Sustainable Neighbourhoods Green buildings, green infrastructure Healthy and energy efficient homes Environmentally-friendly infrastructure (sewers, streets, etc.)
Sustainable Neighbourhoods Diversity of housing types and housing prices (affordability)
Sustainable Neighbourhoods Employment opportunities created in neighbourhoods
Sustainable Neighbourhoods Provide opportunities for community and personal health and satisfaction
Remember that expression if we want to know how to live more sustainably, we just have to look back 100 years Older neighbourhoods exhibit many of these features, such as: Walkable streets Housing variety Local shopping areas Employment opportunities close to home Parks, community facilities, etc. Diversity!
Core has many assets to build on Walkable streets: tree-lined, sidewalks Housing variety: single family, towers, apts, affordable, etc. Local shopping areas: 11 th Ave. Employment opportunities close to home: GH, 11 th Ave. Parks, community facilities, etc.: Some existing, some needed Diversity!: A range of uses, activities, people in one small area
Core has many assets to build on In a lot of ways, Core has many of the ingredients for success, but, This project is about thinking collectively about how to make it work better so that it can remain a great place to live for generations to come!
Core has many assets to build on Today, we asked you about what you like & dislike about Core This information will help us focus our efforts. We d also like to know more NOW, Its time for some fun! COMMUNITY MAPPING!
What is Community Mapping? A fun way to learn from and share your thoughts with others about your neighbourhood Sharing Knowledge with Others Communicate What s Important Reveal New Ideas and Opportunities
How does it work? 1. In groups (tables), use the map of Core for the basis for discussion 2. I ask you questions. 3. You place stickers on the area in Core as an answer 4. Feel free to add notes to the maps to explain the issue
How does it work? 5. When we re done, choose a group member to share the following: a) Top three things you learned (as a group) b) Top three things that need to be addressed c) Top three things that make Core a great neighbourhood
What s Next? How to Stay Involved