The scope and benefits of Regional Planning How HRM has grown since 1950 What has shaped that growth What HRM residents

1. This Regional Planning Introduction presentation was designed to give the Regional Planning Committee, Council and senior HRM staff a general overview of regional planning in HRM, how HRM has grown and some of what the public has said about growth in HRM. It outlines: • The scope and benefits of Regional Planning • How HRM has grown since 1950 • What has shaped that growth • What HRM residents have said about growth in the region • The four key questions that will shape the regional planning process Hit Page Down for the first slide The presentation is fully animated and takes about 20 minutes to run through. Enjoy!

2. Introduction to Regional Planning in HRM Next

3. Regional Planning - Scope The scope of HRM’s regional plan covers: • Economy - Providing economic expansion opportunities to maintain a diverse economy, rich in resources • Transportation - with specific focus on integrating transportation systems with land use and the environment • Settlement Pattern - Balanced growth, focusing on accommodating growth so development is sustainable • Environment - Protecting the environment so our vast open spaces and clean lakes & waterways are maintained & enhanced Next

4. Regional Planning - Scope The regional plan also includes: • Capital District • Harbour Planning Next

5. Regional Planning - Deliverables The regional plan will provide: • Policies • Mapping • Financial Planning • Governance Recommendations • An Implementation Plan The timing of the regional plan is estimated to be: • Regional Planning Principles – Spring 2003 • Public Input and Solution Options – 2003/2004 • Public Input and Solution Choices – 2004/2005 Next

6. What do HRM Residents Value? • Character, traditions and way of life • Vibrant downtown • Vast open spaces • Clean lakes & waterways • Safe, healthy communities • Diverse economy Over the last year HRM residents were asked to identify the things they value most about living in HRM. Here is what they said: Next

7. HRM is at an historical crossroad Growth in the region is inevitable We have an opportunity to plan at a regional scale We can determine how best to manage new growth We can ensure the protection and enhancement of our valued attributes Why Does HRM Need a Regional Plan? How will we ensure these many valued attributes of HRM are maintained and enhanced for the future? One sure way is through regional planning because... HRM’s Regional Plan will not be a community plan – it includes the entire region covered by HRM. Next

8. Safe communities Healthy and vibrant communities Excellence in governance Excellence in service Regional Planning Values HRM’s Corporate Scorecard highlights four key areas that the Regional Plan will consider. They are: Next

9. Regional Planning - Benefits • Identify areas for planned growth • Identify economic opportunities & risks • Respond to environmental concerns • Enable region-wide decisions • Maximize benefits of HRM’s key assets • Provide guidance for community plans There are many benefits to regional planning. The regional plan will: Next

10. How has HRM grown? Next

11. Rural Rural Rural Commutershed Rural Commutershed Suburban Suburban Urban Core Urban Core Including the Halifax Peninsula & Dartmouth area inside the Circumferential (#111)Highway Including areas of unserviced development to the west & east of the Suburban area, including communities such as Lucasville, Hubbards & Musquodoboit Harbour. Including areas of concentrated serviced (water & sewer) development around the urban core, like Beaverbank, Timberlea & Cole Harbour. A resource-based settlement area in the eastern region of the HRM. It includes communities such as Enfield, Sheet Harbour & Ecum Secum. Most residents commute into the urban core daily, but have fewer municipal services than the suburban areas. HRM Settlement Areas Next

12. HRM Settlement Areas This map shows generalized population distribution within the 4 settlement areas. Low = <300 Medium = 300 to 500 High = >500 Population Distribution Next

13. 250 Urban Core 200 Suburbs 150 Rural Population (thousands) Commutershed 100 Rural 50 0 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 Historical Trends Population by subregion (1971-2001) The core experienced a steady slow decline since 1971, however between 1996 & 2001, there has been a reverse. It is now showing a slight increase. This represents a very interesting trend reversal that bears exploring for future opportunities. Suburban population (shown in orange) was slightly lower than the urban core in 1971. It has grown significantly over the last 30 years and is now double the size of the urban core (shown in blue). The rural commutershed (shown in purple) area has doubled in size since 1971. Rural population (shown in green) has remained stable. Source: Statistics Canada, HRM Planning Services Next

14. Historical Trends Persons per household Persons per household size has decreased by 0.9 people over the past 25 years. This means more dwelling units on a per capita basis. For example, in 1976 there was an average of 3.28 people per dwelling unit. But, in 2001 there was an average of 2.39 people per dwelling unit. Next Source: Statistics Canada

15. Historical Trends Land consumption by decade Land consumption by decade has more than doubled since the 1960s. The most significant jump in consumption occurred between the 1960s and 1970s with consumption plataeuing slightly in the 1990s. Projected total consumption for this decade is shown in red and is expected to be slightly higher than total consumption in the 1990s. Source: Province of Nova Scotia – Property Registration Next

16. Historical Trends Number of acres consumed per person Our consumption of land shows a steady and significant increase since the 1960s, on an acre per person basis. And it is projected to continue to increase in the 2000s. This means: • Lot sizes are becoming much larger as people move further out from the urban core in search of a “piece of the country side”. • We are using land less efficiently as we move further out. • The costs of development will increase as we will require more roads on a per capita basis with less efficient use of land, and more piped services. Next Source: HRM Planning Services

17. Historical Trends Using the 2001 data, there are fewer metres of road per person, closer to the core. In other words, as we move farther away from the core, there are fewer people per metre of road. This means on a per capita basis, there are higher maintenance costs, because regardless of how many people live along the roads, they still need to be maintained. Metre of road per person Next

18. 1975 Regional Development Plan • Removal of growth rate limits in 1986 • 19 planning districts with MPS policies and zoning regulations Current growth rates shown in purple 1975 Regional Development Boundary Each has regulations to protect the distinct character of the area 19 Planning Districts Growth Rate Control Areas What has shaped HRM growth? Next • Public policy

19. What has shaped HRM growth? • Public finance • Federal • Income tax deductions for parking but not transit • Infrastructure support • Provincial • Rural roads • 100 series highways • Public transit funding discontinued • Housing program discontinued • Municipal • Roads, Tax structure, CCC Next

20. What has shaped HRM growth? • Geography • 7.7% of HRM is surface water • 39% of land in HRM is NS Crown owned • Market • Baby boom generation - first time home buyers • Lending institutions - mortgage decisions on housing price. Next

21. What has shaped HRM growth? Crown Lands/Forest Company Land Holdings A Combination of Factors Surface Water Features Crown Lands Highways and Major Roads Development has primarily occurred along the current roadway system and around surface waters & Crown-owned lands. Combining these factors with land registration data from the past 60 years (shown in red), shows that development has been strongly influenced by the roadway system, surface water features & crown land ownership. Next

22. This is a close-up of the core and Chebucto peninsula, which provides some detail of land development patterns over the past 50 years. You can begin to see development occurring along the roadway system and along the coast. 1990’s 1960’s 1970’s 1980’s 2000’s 1950’s How has HRM grown? Next

23. Lot registration 1945 to present How has HRM grown? For all of HRM including the 4 settlement boundaries, this is the overall pattern. Next

24. 1950 present Summary If you look at these close-up slides again, showing the 1950s side by side with the present day, you can see the growth over the past 50 years. The dispersed pattern of growth as reflected by the lot registration data, is the result of all the factors which have been outlined. Next

25. Public policy • Public finance • Geography • Market ? The future… Next

26. What have people said about HRM’s growth? Next

27. Consultation HRM used a variety of public participation techniques to gain better insight into what people value about the region and what they think about the way HRM has grown. • Case Studies • Workbook • Position Papers • Capital District Visioning Process • Citizen’s Survey Next

28. Citizen Survey Results • Transportation • Average travel time to work is a little less than 30 minutes during rush hour. • 63% rated their level of satisfaction with rush hour traffic as 6 - 10 out of 10. 33% rated their level of satisfaction as 5 or less. • Dissatisfaction with the level of traffic during rush hour was significantly higher for commuters from the western side of the region (45%) than respondents from the urban areas (21%). • Environment • Environmental issues are important to the residents of HRM. • The top five environmental issues in order of priority were: Harbour Clean-up, Drinking Water Quality, Lake Water Quality for Recreation, Loss of Wildlife, and Conservation of Green Space. • Urban residents add concern for air quality. Next

29. Citizen Survey Results • Community Safety • Downtown is an important place for entertainment, shopping, community gatherings, food & drink and educational activities • Residents that live closer to the downtown core (urban and suburban) rate the importance of the downtown higher than those who live further away • Community safety is very important to HRM residents • Respondents expressed concern over issues like pedestrian safety, speeding traffic, safety of children, vandalism, theft • Downtown Next

30. The Case Studies Three high-level themes were identified as findings from the community case studies: • Environmental impacts of current and future land development patterns • Adequacy of land use regulations to protect community character • Adequacy of infrastructure and services in rural areas Next

31. What people like best about HRM: Beauty of the area Size of the city Natural environment Pace of life Challenges facing HRM: Traffic congestion Growth patterns Harbour clean-up Environment protection Recreation opportunities The Workbook According to the workbook results, HRM residents found a number of positive and negative aspects of HRM. Next

32. The Workbook The workbook results show HRM residents want: • Planned Growth • Gradual and planned growth • Green space & infrastructure • Waterfront development • Historic preservation • Integrated Transportation • Better transportation infrastructure & design • Improvement in public transportation Next

33. The Workbook The workbook also shows HRM residents want: • Environmental Management • Preserve open space • Protect the environment, especially trees and natural areas during development • Keep lakes and waterways clean and safe • Keep water accessible to public Next

34. Special needs groups Business groups Environmental groups Health boards Universities Heritage groups Residents associations Individuals The Position Papers A variety of groups submitted positions papers including: Next

35. The Position Papers “By and large residents live here because it is beautiful, there is a sense of space, and the quality of life is unique. Our quality of life, while a blessing, is extremely fragile and under increasing stress. We do not want to lose our identity.” Friends of St. Margaret’s Bay Next

36. The Position Papers “Currently, HRM is car-oriented, resulting in urban sprawl, a lack of viable alternative modes, people being squeezed out by traffic and parking and green spaces being sacrificed for roads and parking lots. HRM should strive to create…compact, mixed-use neighbourhoods that make walking, cycling and transit use convenient options.” Ecology Action Centre Next

37. The Position Papers “The control of urban sprawl is a key element of your Smart Growth Principles: • Extend the central service boundary • Promote development within the service boundary • Promote services in key villages • Identify and protect ‘development reserves’ • Deter subdivisions outside villages • ESAs and scenic reserves should be identified as preservation areas” Saint Mary’s University Next

38. Capital District Visioning During the CD Visioning process, we heard that HRM residents see the Capital District as a major regional asset with the following attributes: • Harbour and marine identity • Transportation links • Heritage, arts & cultural resources • Open spaces for public use • Unique sense of community identity • Economic, political & cultural centre Next

39. Summary Just to summarize, we heard that HRM residents want: • Enhanced transportation • Protection of the environment • Affordable and sustainable future • Protection of what citizens value • Capital District as a major regional asset • Leadership from HRM and public input • Balanced growth Next

40. The Four Key Questions Next

41. Regional Planning – Key Questions What locations are regionally significant to support economic expansions? What type of transportation investment do we want to facilitate growth? Where should we encourage settlement areas over the next 25 years? How do we protect our environmental assets? The Regional Plan will attempt to address the following four questions in detail. Next

42. The End