Greenlands Centre Wellington Workshop, April 28, 2007
“Mapping a Greenlands Future”

TO OUR PARTICIPANTS

 “Leadership can come from the public.”  The choices to be made about the future of our community need your thinking and creativity. The “Assumption & Question handouts” should be viewed as a guideline not a list of written constraints. Ask any question you feel is relevant even if it is not on the handout. The maps provided present the most accurate information available but they may contain errors which should be noted in writing throughout this exercise.

GROWTH MANAGEMENT TABLE

maps: Agricultural lands and aggregates, Aerial photograph, Urban Centre

Assumptions & Questions

Discuss the assumptions and questions before putting lines on the map

a)    CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNITY

Assume the existing character or plan for a new character.  In physical terms, how do we map this character?  Two separate towns? An integrated urban area?  A commuter based residential centre? Maintain historic character and buildings in both downtowns or prefer the convenience of strip malls and big box development?

b)    FORM

How compact and what type of development? (higher density, single family)  What type of intensification is most appropriate? (apartments, townhouses, semis)

c)    LOCATION

Where do we encourage residential, commercial and industrial growth?  Where should intensification be directed? (new peripheral areas, downtown and existing built-up areas).  Consider the transit implications.

d)    PROTECTED GREENLANDS

Are there rural areas(vistas, valleylands), farmland and/or working lands that must be protected from urban development?  Are there urban greenlands that must be protected from development? Which aggregate sites should be developed to facilitate our urban growth?

e)  Any other questions your group feels are relevant

WATER TABLE

Assumptions & Questions

Discuss the assumptions and questions before putting lines on the map

a)    Assumptions: The source of Centre Wellington’s future water supply will be ground water. As Centre Wellington’s population grows there will be an increased demand for safe clean water.  The price of water will increase as a result of the costs associated with source water protection, and obtaining, treating, and distributing water.  Can we assume “growth forever” as a logical course for Centre Wellington using water as a necessary but finite resource?  Do plants and wildlife have “rights” to water in the Township (TCW)?  Water protection will be a source of future land use conflict in TCW.

b)    Questions:

1. What kinds of “water areas” should we be concerned about protecting? (there should be several)

2. What does the term “source water protection” mean? (prescribed setbacks from well heads? limits on the type of development in a recharge or aquifer area? areas where all development is prohibited?, other?)

3. Which areas in TCW must be protected from a human water protection perspective?

4. Which areas in TCW must be protected from a  non-human (plant and wildlife) water protection perspective? 

5. Do we have water resource areas that could be rehabilitated to meet both non-human and human needs?

6. Where in TCW are the future water capture zones?

7. Any other questions your group feels are relevant

 

HABITAT & NATURAL HERITAGE SYSTEM TABLE

Assumptions & Questions

Discuss the assumptions and questions before putting lines on the map

a)     Assumptions: Natural heritage features and areas shall be protected for the long term. The diversity and connectivity of natural features in an area, and the long-term ecological function and biodiversity of natural heritage systems, should be maintained, restored or, where possible, improved, recognizing linkages between and among natural heritage features and areas, surface water features and ground water features. Provincial Policy Statements 2.1.1 and 2.1.2

b)    Questions:

1. Which areas in TCW must be protected, buffered, linked, rehabilitated or expanded for wildlife habitat?

2. Which areas in TCW must be protected, buffered, linked, rehabilitated or expanded for plant habitat?

3. Are there any natural heritage landscapes, heritage vistas and/or landforms that should be protected? (possibly through heritage designation)

4. Are there areas in TCW where all human intrusion should be prohibited? eg wildlife refuges.

5. Which areas in TCW need to be linked to provide migration routes or wildlife corridors?  Create these linkages on your map

6. Any other questions your group feels are relevant

RECREATION TABLE

Assumptions & Questions

Discuss the assumptions and questions before putting lines on the map

Assumptions:  Healthy, active communities should be promoted by:

1. planning public streets, spaces and facilities to be safe, meet the needs of pedestrians, and facilitate pedestrian and non-motorized movement, including but not limited to, walking and cycling

2. providing for a full range and equitable distribution of publicly-accessible built and natural settings for recreation, including facilities, parklands, open space areas, trails, and where practical, water-based resources

3. providing opportunities for public access to shorelines; and

4. considering the impacts of planning decisions on provincial parks, conservation reserves and conservation areas Provincial Policy Statement 1.5.1

Questions:

1. Which areas in TCW must be protected for human health and enjoyment?

2. Which recreational areas in TCW must be protected, linked, rehabilitated or expanded for passive recreation? (bird watching, walking). Where would you recommend physical changes be made in Centre Wellington to make it a more walkable and bikeable? (Could there be trails and paths along the back of properties? In what areas do bike lanes make sense?) 

3. Which recreational areas in TCW must be protected, linked, rehabilitated or expanded for active recreation? ( sports fields, cycling, snowmobiling, equestrian trails, kayaking, climbing) Is it possible to integrate recreational spaces with high density housing?

4. Which areas in TCW need to be protected, linked, rehabilitated or expanded to meet the recreational needs of hunters and fishers?

5. Create a Trails Masterplan for TCW: consider the needs of multiple users.  This will require you to link existing trails and recommend new trails.  As you create new trails identify the destinations that will ensure use of the new trails. Identify public access points and public access routes along streams and rivers: consider via road allowances.

6. Where in TCW would you locate new active or passive recreational open space?

   Where in TCW would you locate future parks: new large park to serve the Township as it grows in the next few decades?

   Are there older neighbourhoods without parks that need one?

   Special needs areas?

7. Are there properties owned by the GRCA or County of Wellington which could protected, linked, rehabilitated and/or expanded for recreational uses by residents of TCW? Does TCW need private sector or joint public-private recreational sites? If yes, where should they be located?

8. Any other questions your group feels are relevant

Participant feedback