MANDATE

The Capital Region Board Regulation provides the mandate for Land Use in the Capital Region Growth Plan. It requires a comprehensive, integrated regional land use plan for the Capital Region that includes the following:

• Population and Employment Projections
• The identification of
  • Priority growth areas
  • Land supply for residential, commercial and industrial purposes
  • Agricultural lands
  • Buffer areas
  • Density of development, and 
  • The development and location of infrastructure
• The identification of corridors for recreation, transportation, utilities and intermunicipal transit
• Policies regarding environmentally sensitive areas
• Policies for the co-ordination of planning and development among the participating municipalities, and
• Specific actions to be taken by the participating municipalities to implement the land use plan.

Click on the link below to access the Land Use Plan (Appendix 2 of the Capital Region Growth Plan):

Land Use Plan (PDF)

VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The Vision Statement adopted for the Capital Region was:

• A family of diverse interdependent communities in a prosperous and sustainable region.
• A region where the uniqueness of its residents, communities and natural environments are respected and supported.
• A region that adapts to and promotes change to ensure the social, economic and cultural well being of its residents and communities, and which sustains its natural and human environments.

The overarching Strategic Principle adopted to guide decisions on land use was to Optimize Priorities:

• Building on our strengths and what we already have, new growth and development in the Capital Region shall optimize the priorities of environment, community, services, economy, transit and management.

From the Vision Statement and the Strategic Principle, six key Land Use Principles were adopted:

Protect Environment and Resources

• Preserve and protect the environment 
• Preserve agricultural lands
• Protect natural resources
• Minimize the impact of development on regional watersheds and airsheds
• Minimize the impact of heavy industrial developments.  

Minimize Regional Footprint

• Identify, protect, and prioritize lands for regional infrastructure
• Concentrate new growth within Priority Growth Areas
• Allow growth outside of Priority Growth Areas
• Support expansion of medium and higher density residential housing forms
• Support cluster country residential development

Strengthen Communities

• Create inclusive communities
• Support healthy communities
• Support public transit
• Support innovative and affordable housing options

Increase Transportation Choice

• Integrate transportation systems with land use
• Support the expansion of transit services in various forms 

Ensure Efficient Provision of Services

• Design integrated physical infrastructure within the region
• Maximize utilization of existing infrastructure

Support Regional Economic Development

• Ensure a supply of land to sustain a variety of economic development activities
• Attract and retain individuals and families with a diverse range of skills to the Capital Region to satisfy the region’s economic development goals
• Support regional prosperity
• Position the Capital Region competitively on the world stage

KEY OUTCOMES

Land Use Policies are associated with the Principles above. The Principles and Policies address the land use requirements of the Capital Region Board Regulation. The Principles and Policies also provide the framework to direct the development pattern of the Capital Region to more compact growth, a reduced development footprint, greater emphasis on transit for personal mobility, intensified land uses and a broader range of housing supply.  The Land Use Principles and Policies are the framework that provides the direction for future land use decisions in the Capital Region. Click on the link below to access the Land Use Principles and Policies.

Land Use Plan Principles and Policies (PDF)

CONSULTATION

Development of the Land Use Plan was informed by the findings of a public and stakeholder consultation.  There were three components to the consultation which took place over two time periods.

In the fall of 2008, consultations were held with a broad range of stakeholders.  In January 2009, a qualitative survey of more than 1,300 Capital Region residents was conducted. In February 2009, a final   round of consultations was held.  The Consultation Summary provides details on the results of and participants in the consultation process.

Consultation Summary (PDF)

CONTACT

For more information on the Capital Region Land Use Plan, contact:

Neal Sarnecki, Manager - Regional Projects
Phone: (780) 638-6003
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it