Smart Growth & Location

“Smart Growth” is a collection of mixed land use principles. The principles ensure that growth is environmentally and socially responsible and also recognizes the important connections between land use, the natural environment, and quality of life.

Mixed land use: Neighbourhoods should have a diversity of housing types, retail, business and recreation opportunities in order to make them self-sufficient and to foster a sense of community.

Compact walking/cycling neighbourhood: Residents can live, work, shop and play in close proximity. Access to daily activities is within a five minute walk/cycle through a series of interconnected trails and paths.

Variety of transportation choices: Neighbourhoods are attractively designed to provide safe infrastructure for walking, cycling and transit, with less dependence on the automobile. Diverse housing opportunities: “Aging in place” provides people at different life stages with the opportunity to grow with the neighbourhood.

Preservation of open spaces and natural beauty: Where possible, the neighbourhood development will respect the natural landscape. Linear trails border the neighbourhood and follow natural water courses thereby protecting the aesthetic and environmental values of the land.

Nurture engaged citizens: Neighbourhoods belong to its residents as this is where they live, work, and play. Engaged citizens participate in community life and decision making.