Official Community Plan

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NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

OBJECTIVES

1. Remaining sensitive ecosystems are protected; lost or degraded sensitive ecosystems are restored 2. The K’ómoks Estuary is ‘kept living’ (Q’waq’wala7owkw) and environmental, Indigenous, subsistence and recreational values are protected and restored 3. Courtenay’s air, water, and soil are clean 4. The urban forest is healthy and growing towards a 34-40% canopy cover target 5. Development practices meet ecosystem health and site adaptive design objectives 6. Information and opportunities are in place for the wider community to play an active role in the protection, restoration , and stewardship of the natural environment Objectives and policies regarding Courtenay’s parks are included in the Parks and Recreation chapter. Requiring that new local area plans incorporate watershed health goals is described in Part B - Managing Growth. Green infrastructure , water quality, and sensitive rainwater management to better support watershed health is a topic included in the Municipal Infrastructure chapter.

City of Courtenay Official Community Plan