Moratorium on Urbal Sprawl in the Capital Regional District.

2011 April 13, by Chapter Council

The Victoria Chapter of the Council of Canadians is very happy to endorse the Dogwood Initiative’s call for a moratorium on all land use changes in the Capital region until

1. The regional sustainability Strategy is complete and
2. The CRD commits to adequately consult and accommodate Indigenous governments

Our vision for the Capital Regional District Includes

1. Keeping urban and suburban habitation centres focused around density, mixed use development and transit to reduce car dependence
2. Protecting agricultural land through the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) to promote local resiliency and food security
3. Providing a truly democratic planning process that respects indigenous rights and includes ample public consultation
4. Increased funding of urban and suburban parks for recreation
5. Acting aggressively to prevent development sprawl, car-centric commuter subdivisions
6. Keeping the downtown core healthy, diverse and dense.
7. Protecting our parks and trails for the wonderful opportunities they offer all British Columbians and tourists

We know that the people in the CRD who are responsible for the regional growth strategy share these broad based values for a sustainable, happy and livable area. However, in the last few years, we have seen some major land use decisions and decision tracks that have encouraged sprawl, disregarded indigenous rights, and have failed to conform to the principles of the regional growth strategy. The Bear Mountain development, and proposals for the removal of Central Saanich land from the ALR both spring to mind.

We applaud you for your recent decision to consider the effects of rezoning decisions in rural resource zoned land in Juan de Fuca, where a small group of local decision makers could have chosen to approve a sprawling 250+ building development right off the Juan de Fuca trail. We urge you to halt this, and other sprawl inducing land use change applications until the regional sustainability strategy is in place. This is a very important decision you will make, and we will be monitoring this decision closely.

We are privileged to live in a place endowed with much natural beauty and abundance, with ample land, water and resources for an equitable community, a sustainable economy and sustainable agriculture. We would like you to ensure that this sustainability is not endangered by land use decisions that increase sprawl.