CASE STUDIES SELECTION CRITERIA GRID

SECTOR: 1=Transportation; 2=Waste; 3=Energy; 4=Community Plng; 5=Governance DRAFT June 22, 2006

Option 1 to complete Grid:
     Simple Assessment with No Weighting:  Complete with Yes/No; or X versus blank space for each Factor on grid

Option 2 to complete Grid: Weighted Score:  Not Applicable or no Evidence of Factor =0 or blank
     Partial evidence of factor =1
     Clear evidence of factor=2

Note, Definitions of Sustainability Factors follows on next page.

DEFINITIONS of TWELVE COMMON FEATURES COMMON TO SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Ecological protection:

“Ecological protection involves activities that protect, conserve and restore agricultural lands, wetlands, forests, meadows, riparian zones and other natural ecosystem types. When progress is made in integrating ecological protection at all three levels of analysis (building, site, and planning/infrastructure), new social, environmental and economic benefits are generated that would otherwise be overlooked.””(p35)

“Ecologically sensitive landscaping also contributes directly to the market value of properties and can reduce winter heating costs by up to 25%.”(p36)

Higher Density and Transit-Supportive Urban Design

Achieving higher densities of development and more transit-supportive urban design are two critically important features of sustainable communities because they help determine the feasibility of achieving goals related to ecological protection, transportation and local economic development. They also have an impact on the production of greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, long term food security, and the productivity and international competitiveness of cities. “

Urban Infill

“Greenfield developments always require new land, whereas urban infill (including brownfield redevelopment) initiatives are inherently more sustainable because they re-use land that already been urbanized and often has the required infrastructure in place. Urban infill can make use of existing infrastructure and help to financially support existing public transit systems and commercial activities.

“”A study conducted for the “Golden Task Force” on the Future of the Greater Toronto Area found that savings of between 22-32 percent depending on the amount of the infill and compact development achieved, could be realized for hard services (road, sewers, water and transit.) This would represent savings of $700 to $1B annually for the GTA (17)”

Village Centres

Village centres offer a social gathering place, which has a positive effect on neighbourhood life, facilitating opportunities for people to meet each other and create and sustain network of relationships that define a true community. Commercial centres in close proximity also encourage people to walk or cycle instead of using their vehicles to purchase goods and services (e.g. groceries, dentist, etc.)

Health Local Economy

Sustainable communities should promote integrated commercial and village areas that offer a variety of economic opportunities for businesses and employment. “Local economic development can be supported through policy and program decisions at the building, site and planning and infrastructure level. ”

Zoning that allows light industrial and residential uses in same structure or the conversion of vacant commercial space in downtown areas to residential use encourages sustainable economic development and reduces reliance on automobile commuting (per CMHC, p 42, approximately half of automobile use in urban centres is commuter traffic.)

Workers within a Knowledge based economy seek a quality of life that can be appreciated by all.

Eco-Industrial Networking offers an integrated systems approach to sustainable economic development, and involves establishing partnerships between municipalities, academic institutions, community groups and businesses to maximize the efficient use of water, materials, energy, infrastructure and human resources. (Paraphrase)

Sustainable Transportation

Transportation impacts air and water quality, health, green house gas emissions, public finances, quality of life and the competitiveness or relative attractiveness of cities. (Paraphrase)

Transportation networks should be designed to incorporate narrow roads, with less paved surface to improve storm-water management, protect habitat, and lower construction costs, and should be designed to encourage bicycling and walking as safe and efficient modes of transport (network of bicycle lanes or off-road paths.). Public transit systems should be safe, efficient, accessible, with convenient schedules and routes to encourage reduction in auto use.

Mixed Housing Stock/Affordable Housing

A sustainable community should offer a mix of different housing options that accommodates a range of incomes, family sizes and ages. (Mark Holland , 8 Pillars of a sustainable community)

Development standards should be modified so that minimum lot size, permit setback requirements, housing type constraints and density limits do not eliminate more affordable housing options. Compact development reduces house prices and promotes sustainable public transit options; this in turn reduces automobile dependency, reduces a further barrier to affordability, and reduces emission and land use issues.

Livable Community with Facilities and Programs

Sustainable communities should provide ample opportunity for sociability, personal development and community participation. They should include identifiable neighbourhoods, incorporate multi-task accessible green space, community meeting spaces with programs to address cultural and recreational needs, and make people of all ages feel comfortable and alive. Social and economic diversity, walking-distance amenities and convenient public transportation are also elements conducive to enhancing the “livability” of a community. Some studies also indicate a four story height limit to buildings is also a consideration .

Low Impact Sewage and Storm-water Treatment

It is critical that communities provide sewage treatment, and that such treatment employ technologies that minimize the entry of chemical pollutants into the local or regional ecosystem. Appropriate technology and design includes the use of constructed wetlands or systems that incorporate the use of a series of large tanks inside a greenhouse to recycle liquids and sludge together using various plants and grasses to purify the effluent.

Stormwater management plans should comprise strategies to minimize runoff through appropriate road design, and minimize the use of impermeable surfaces, and include landscaped runoff control and/or treatment areas such ponds, swales or constructed wetlands to retain stormwater.

Water Conservation

Water management strategies should aim to reduce the demand for potable water by promoting the use of low flush toilets and by using closed-loop grey water recycling systems, as well as by other innovative initiatives to conserve and/or treat water in a benign manner. Strategies to reduce and recycle water should also address ways to reduce the heavy dependence on water for lawn maintenance, by promoting alternative landscaping techniques.

Energy Efficiency

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

The key element here is “the reduction, reuse or recycling of construction wastes, the use of environmentally sound or green building materials from local sources, and the provision of in-house recycling areas.”(p56)

Note, Reduce/reuse/recycle is Implicit in Eco-Industrial Networking, under Health Local Economy.

Definitions Adapted primarily from CMHC Research Report “Ïmplementing Sustainable Community Development: Charting a Federal Role for the 21st Century”, prepared by Peck and Associates, 2000. Some definitions taken verbatim; others clarified and/or expanded