This is my first opportunity to write this column since my election last fall.
Shortly after being sworn to office Mayor Greg Gardner appointed council members to standing committees. I was appointed to chair the Community Development and Planning Committee and I sit on that committee with Councillor Patricia Heintzman and Mayor Gardner. In addition, the director of planning, Cameron Chalmers, and the director of community development, Mick Gottardi, attend committee meetings.
There are several significant planning projects presently underway in the district.
In this column I would like to highlight one of them, the Sustainability Block or "S Block" as it is often called. This is a proposed development on the Cattermole Slough on Block 41 and the Mamquam Blind Channel on Blocks 44 and 45.
Those blocks are immediately north, south and west of the present location of the 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料 Yacht Club. The S-Block is an initiative of the Planning Department of the District of 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料. It was developed as part of the district's Community Energy Action Plan. It provides for a higher and more sustainable building standard than is called for in the Building Code and for the dedication of portions of the development for job creation.
The owners of Blocks 41, 44 and 45 have indicated a willingness to consider developing those lands to this standard. Construction to a higher standard is voluntary on the part of the landowner because the district cannot force an owner to build to a standard beyond the Building Code.
To achieve a higher standard the developer must expend a significantly greater amount of money on construction. To make this practical the district would allow the developer to build to a higher density. The issue for the community to consider is whether we want to have buildings built to a higher and more sustainable and energy efficient standard in return for increased height of buildings.
To allow more density without significantly reducing or completely eliminating the open spaces and views that are important to the community will require higher buildings. How high is still open for discussion, but buildings in the range of six to 12 stories could be expected. The result of the S-Block program would lead to a very leading edge sustainable demonstration project that could be a template for other developments in the district.
I would like to hear from you if you have an opinion on this proposal. It is important for council members to hear from the community before we commit district planning resources to the design of this form of development.
Please email me at [email protected] or send me a letter in care of the District of 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料, Box 310, 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料, V8B 0A3. I look forward to hearing from you.
