Carbon based zoning
Victoria is already a leader among sustainable communities. We have the highest share for cycling and walking for transportation of any major city in North America. Developments like Dockside Green are a showcase for developments around the world where people are looking for solutions to reduce our carbon footprint. We need to maintain our momentum and look for new opportunities and innovations to make Victoria a carbon neutral city.
Cities can use their zoning powers to encourage developers and residents to move forward to lower our carbon footprint. Here’s some areas we should be working in.
A city energy audit that assesses consumption and absorption of carbon. How much energy are we using and what is the potential of our parks and greenspaces to absorb our emissions?
Protecting our ability to absorb carbon requires more commitment to greenspace and tree protection and to renewal of the urban forest.
Tree protection – not just native species
Urban forest renewal – nursing and replanting to replace existing or ailing urban forests
Green buffers – ensuring neighbourhoods have access to parks and greenspace and buffers against watercourses and wildlife corridors to preserve or expand the natural environment in the city
Supporting energy alternatives and reducing consumption
Zoning and development permit processes need to start assessing the potential ofr small scale, self supporting energy capture or generation. Dockside Green generates power from passive solar and onsite sewage treatment and resource recovery. More developments need to follow this model and other strategies are needed to reduce our demand for megaproject energy sources.
Assess orientation of development to promote passive or active solar heating
Protecting not only viewscapes, but access to the solar envelope to provide energy sources for homes and other buildings
Victoria is a windy city where small scale power generation could be facilitated by small wind turbines. Height restrictions or other restraints should be relaxed or varied to allow for green power. Other variances should be allowed for other green features.
Remove square footage for sustainable features (bike parking etc)
Green roofs – height bonus
City food production – more generous allowances for boulevard gardens etc
Transportation features
Walk connectivity should be required for subdivisions and large properties
“Complete streets” should be the goal of rehab or development projects
More and better bicycle parking facilities are needed for workplaces and other larger scale developments
Public Assets
Solar energize and green roof public buildings
Fit parking garages with electrical support for plug in hybrids and other future oriented transportation options (more bike parking facilities, smaller cars)
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