Results
Ucluelet is now often used as an example of innovation and planning for other local governments. By actually implementing a number of sustainable planning initiatives, Ucluelet has been able to ground truth various techniques and improve upon them. Other communities can benefit from this work and use it to their advantage.
Using alternative design standards has allowed Ucluelet to see the following results:
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Lower operational costs (e.g., French drains)
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Increased pedestrian and bicycle friendly neighbourhoods (e.g., multi-use paths)
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More liveable communities (e.g., mixed-use zoning, creating live-work-play environments)
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Less disturbance to ecological resources (e.g., compact communities, narrower road widths)
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Reduced CO2 emissions
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Lower housing and development costs
New subdivisions have 40-60% green space retention through Ucluelet’s unique and locally created riparian area regulations. Density Bonusing has provided the community with cash and amenities it would not have received otherwise; for example, in 2004, Ucluelet had an operating surplus of only $60,000.
To date, the community has received approximately $12 million in combined cash, parkland, and amenities such as a new skateboard park, basketball court and tot-park as well as contributions towards a new community centre and multi-purpose sports field.
Implementation of Ucluelet’s Density Bonusing system has also contributed to average net green space retention of 40-60% of the total natural green space area of development properties, as compared to the provincial minimum subdivision requirement of 5%.
Residential Affordability
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20% of all new multifamily, condo and hotel units are affordable and/or staff housing
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50% rental/50% ownership
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Managed and administered by an affordable housing committee
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Built and paid for by developers
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Affordable as defined by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) & the Ucluelet Affordable Housing Committee
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Planning policies supporting small lot sizes, variety of residential development
Subdivisions
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Protect character and create a “sense of place”
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Rural design methods for subdivisions• Alternatives for storm water management (French drains)
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Road design (less wide)
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LEED-ND (neighbourhood design)
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Wild Pacific Foreshore Trail (legacy)
Since the original District of Ucluelet/VIU partnership, Felice Mazzoni and Dave Robinson have helped to raise the profile of planning through VIU by creating a Community/University Planning Research Alliance with VIU’s Tourism and Recreation Department. The alliance promotes the sharing of planning knowledge, resources and expertise between the school and the community. Ucluelet won the "2006 FCM-CH2M HILL Sustainable Community Award" for sustainable community planning.
Current Initiatives
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3 VIU students (one from the green building technology program)
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Heritage tree bylaw
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Carbon Offsetting Project
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Energy audit
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BuildGreen (amending building bylaw and creating a building package)
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Integrated water management policies
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Electric car initiatives
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LiveSmart- Ucluelet (affordable housing retrofit program)
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Complete Third Corporate Energy Audit
At its 2008 AGM, The Union of BC Municipalities named Ucluelet as the winner of a Community Excellence Award for small communities in the leadership and innovation category. (http://www.westcoaster.ca/modules/AMS/article.php?storyid=5181)