Built Environment Policy Theme
Built Environment is one of three key themes that will shape the Regional Sustainability Strategy (RSS). Three CRD policy papers under this theme provide a framework for its goals and policies:
Policy Goals
- Generate continuing prosperity and affordability
- Efficiently develop and use land and infrastructure
- Seek development that satisfies the triple bottom line: social, environmental, economic
- Alleviate persistent economic hardship
- Pursue investments that provide a proven return
Our Region: Where are we now?
The CRD, together with municipalities and stakeholders, has made significant progress toward a better built environment. Here are some of the initiatives in place or underway:
- Establishment of the Regional Urban Containment and Servicing Policy Area
- Delineation of a metropolitan core and major centres in the 2003 Regional Growth Strategy
- TravelChoices Sub-strategy and Investment and Implementation Plan
- Regional Corridor Management Plan
- Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan
- Regional Housing Affordability Strategy
- Regional Housing Trust Fund
- Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness (GVCEH)
Our Future: Where could we go?
Though the CRD has seen shifts toward sustainability, there is still more to do. Some changes could be moderate, others more significant. For example, we could:
- Set a target of locating 90% of new dwelling units in the Metropolitan Cores, major centres and on priority transit corridors (moderate)
- Identify two new Metropolitan Core areas to focus growth (significant)
- Give incentives for new secondary suites and to preserve existing low rent housing (moderate)
- Use funds from all levels of government to create 650 new units of housing as identified by the GVCEH (significant)
- Support the BC Transit rapid transit project (moderate)
- Adopt policies for medium and high density housing within 400m of rapid and frequent transit stations and corridors (significant)
- Identify the 'spine' of regional roads, cycling, pedestrian and transit routes and set regional priorities for infrastructure investments (significant)
Significant policy shifts lean toward region-wide initiatives, with more substantial investment, higher targets and broader partnerships.
How do the themes link together?
Natural Systems and Social Resilience are the other RSS key themes. Linking policies across the three themes will achieve a greater effect than the sum of their individual effects. For example:
- Identifying two new Metropolitan Core areas is in keeping with the objectives of Economic Sustainability
- Increasing the supply of affordable housing units is consistent with Social Wellbeing
- Active transportation networks support the open space and connectivity objectives of Ecological Health
- Climate change policies aim to embed climate change consideration in all decision making.