Official Community Plan

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HOW COURTENAY WILL GROW

Identifying Growth Locations Seven growth centres and connecting corridors were identified as most suitable for community growth. A series of geospatial variables were modelled together to identify the best locations for growth to achieve a number of community goals. For example: • Floodplain hazard lands. Growth is located away from the floodplain because new residences are not appropriate in these areas. • Environmentally Sensitive Areas . Growth is focused away from these areas in order to not place development and ecological protection in conflict. Wherever growth is planned or proposed near Environmentally Sensitive Areas , biologist studies and site specific mitigation proposals will be required to prioritize protection and restoration of sensitive ecosystems to the fullest extent possible. • Distance to common destinations such as stores, schools, commercial and employment centres, parks, and community service facility locations. Growth is targeted around a number of existing community destinations in order to form the basis of successful 10-minute neighbourhoods . • Proximity to the frequent transit corridor. Growth is targeted near and along the Frequent Transit Network to improve transit service frequency, and provide convenient transit for more people.

Defining the Urban Physical Framework Figure B-1 illustrates the urban framework concept for Courtenay. This urban framework concept will direct growth over approximately the next 10 years, after which new growth centres will have to be identified to plan for and manage growth. Map B-1 illustrates the corresponding land use plan which provides parcel level detail of the land use designations within the urban framework concept. Land use designations and area specific policies are described further in Part B. The strategy for managing Courtenay’s growth is to build upon and strengthen existing successful nodes and corridors within existing neighbourhoods across the city by guiding the majority of future growth toward a series of identified distinct and connected mixed use areas. Focusing growth within existing urban areas is established best community planning and municipal Asset Management practice and is assessed to be the optimum growth pattern to meet the ambitious vision and interrelated goals that direct this Plan.

City of Courtenay Official Community Plan