Yesterday, jlousa posted a link to the
EcoDensity Draft Charter & Draft Initial Actions.
In my opinion, it's an amazing piece of work. It lists the authors as B. Toderian, R. Howard, and T. Kuhlmann. What an incredible job they've done! It definitely gives me a great degree of confidence in Brent Toderian. Also, Sam Sullivan deserves credit for his political push of the idea.
The Draft Charter essentially states that Vancouver will work toward achieving sustainability through a focus on higher density, greener building design, and more effective land use planning.
I recommend that if you don't have time to read the whole report at the link above, at least skim through the Draft Initial Actions listed below.
Draft EcoDensity Initial Actions (2008-2009)
Part I: Raising green standards
1. Greener buildings (4 storeys and over)
Achieve a new green standard in rezonings, effective immediately, by requiring at least LEED Silver equivalency for rezonings for buildings to which LEED may be applied (i.e., larger than 600 square meters; typically, these buildings are 4 storeys and over) with an emphasis on the City priorities (e.g., energy efficiency); and consult with the development industry about moving to LEED Gold equivalency or better at an appropriate time.
2. Greater sustainability for Large Site developments
Where planning policy or rezonings are undertaken for Large Sites or significant changes to existing CD-1 zones, allow consideration of development beyond the density and/or scale set out in Community Vision Directions or other area policies when the proposal shows exemplary leadership in environmental performance while also addressing affordability, and community amenities. This policy to be immediately effective for rezoning inquiries and applications for which policy development is initiated.
3. Incentives for Green Design
To encourage design considerations that improve green performance in the short term, investigate potential energy performance incentives through floor space exclusions that directly relate to green design and technologies, in advance of more detailed strategies through the Green Building Strategy.
4. EcoDensity demonstration in lower density areas
Encourage projects that demonstrate an exceptional level of leadership in innovative green design and sustainable practices, by adopting in principle the concept of an Interim EcoDensity Rezoning Policy, that would allow projects that meet specified green criteria to be considered for site-specific rezoning in advance of area planning. Projects would conform to Vision Directions about type, location, and scale. The specific Rezoning Policy would need to be reported back to Council for approval.
5. EcoDensity leadership on City land
To show City leadership and to improve understanding of, and generate interest in, emerging sustainability practices, develop a proposal to use City land for one or more EcoDensity demonstrations, at potentially varying scales and that could include a variety of EcoDensity and related features, such as deep green design, renewable energy sources, alternative parking standards, affordable housing, and urban agriculture.
6. Priority to applications with green leadership
To encourage the development industry to build at an exemplary level of green, investigate the creation of a prioritised application review system for ultra-green projects to be implemented post-2010.
Part II: Developing options for new housing types
7. More options for secondary suites within buildings
Develop options to require, allow and/or encourage secondary suites in buildings at all scales, from single family and duplex to apartments in order to increase the density of housing units within current housing forms, as well as create lower-cost rental housing.
8. New options for backyard laneway infill housing
Develop options to create a new type of lane-oriented infill, involving features such as implementation on 33’ lots without loss of existing houses; low scale forms; green performance; and rental tenure.
9. New options for arterial mid-rise housing
Develop options to create new models of mid-rise arterial housing rather than the current 4-storey model In order to provide more housing close to shops, services, and transit.
Part III – Developing supporting tools
10. Enabling District Energy
Develop a City-wide renewable energy strategy, including district energy systems, and evaluate specific regulatory and implementation opportunities through consultation and research projects using existing operating budget and contributions by other
stakeholders.
11. Amenity tools
Pursue additional policy tools for obtaining public benefits through development and for providing public benefits in order to ensure that growth is accompanied with adequate community amenities.
Part IV: Moving toward a long-term more sustainable city pattern
12. Plan for the longer term
Develop a program that will provide a city-wide context for determining where and how to make land use changes beyond existing plans and policies, in order to further improve sustainability, affordability, and livability – the program to start with mapping the city’s existing development pattern and plans, as a base for broad public discussion of additional opportunities and options.
13. Amenity strategies for the longer term
Develop a program, involving all City departments, for a comprehensive amenity strategy review, starting with documenting existing standards, delivery mechanisms, capacities, and plans, and using this as a base to evaluate and develop new strategies, with public input.
Part V: Accountability
14. Measurement tools
Continue to investigate and develop tools to measure ecological footprint performance at various scales and contexts, and indicators to assess and report on Vancouver’s progress.
15. Panel
Set up a Panel of advisors comprised of Vancouverites including academics, builders, interest groups, and residents from across the city, to provide advice as needed to further the goals of EcoDensity.
16. Progress Report Structure
Prepare a structure to assess progress and success in meeting the commitments of the EcoDensity Charter which may include an occasional EcoDensity ‘summit’ and a report card prepared at arms-length.
----
One last thought I have is that there seems to be a lot of focus throughout the document on engaging the public. Action 15 above, calling for the creation of a panel which includes interest groups, is especially interesting. Would now be a good time to resurrect Canadian Mind's idea of creating such an interest group (the Vancouver Metropolis Initiative)? I mean, with the combined knowledge and passion of the people on here, we'd probably be very well qualified to provide meaningful input to the panel.
Threaded Mode