I recently posted a request for information on this list server for information on sustainable communities to profile and received a great response - thank you to those who emailed me with suggestions, they have been very useful. This is a second, more specific request, for information on communities that have been really influential in bringing about changes to local authority (municipal) planning. Can anyone think of examples of where a small community has had a really big influence on their local authorities in areas such as building codes/ subdivision/ transport etc so as to become more environmentally sustainable? What did the communities achieve and how did they achieve it? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Emily Arthur
Email: [email protected]
Community Influence on Land Use Planning
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Hi Emily
I just found this in my research today. I don't have anything to do with the project, but found the link on the www.worldchanging.com website. I hope that it's of some use, it's certainly inspirational in how practical it is.
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/005135.html
How to Wean a Town Off Fossil Fuels |
Hana Loftus
The story of the Kinsale Energy Descent Action Planis an extraordinary one. A mid-thirties Englishman with a penchant for permaculture and an interest in peak oil moves to rural Ireland, starts teaching at the local further education college, and ends up writing, with his students, a ground-breaking document: the first timetabled strategy for weaning a town off fossil fuels. And what is more, that small Irish town actually adopts the action plan and starts to implement it. Kinsale is a seaside town of 7000 inhabitants renowned as Ireland's gourmet food capital, as well as the home of a well-known jazz festival. Kinsale 2021 is the title of the document: Rob Hopkinsis the man, who persuaded Kinsale Further Education College to start the first full-time two year course in Europe training in people in Practical Sustainability...
Amanda
Hello Emily
An ENGO worked for approximately 5 years on our municipal official plan (OP). We were very successful in getting changes in the policy and direction of our OP. This took us coming to the table in a balanced fashion and always contributing positively. We went from a plan that rarely considered environment to one that has an environment first approach. We looked to make the town more cognizant of the concept of sustainability, ecosystem and ecosystem services and tried to address some of the more global issues in a local context. Locally, we are now going into what has been called the "Durable Halton" planning exercise. Again, we will be at the table for the long haul. Other local led initiatives I know of in Canada that I could suggest you look at are two Natural Step communities - Canmore (Alberta) and Whistler (British Columbia). Okotoks (Alberta) is also a good example of a municipality moving towards sustainability - they use the concept of carrying capacity of the local watershed to make planning decisions. The Greater Vancouver Regional District has been using QUEST as a basis for long range planning - this model allows people to see what their decision will look like up to 100 years into the future. What I see is that often times a good planning effort is often spearheaded by local citizens. Many times the local efforts get translated into policy at one level or another. The Oak Ridges Moraine in Ontario came from citizens and is now an act - as is the Greenbelt Act in Ontario. Hope this helps, there are tons more examples.
Cheers,
Leslie Adams
Ontario Canada