Summerland has won a national award for a residential development bylaw that preserves agricultural land.
It was one of the 2012 Sustainable Communities Awards announced by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
The awards recognize municipal projects across Canada that demonstrate excellence in environmental responsibility.
The awards were announced at a ceremony during FCM’s Sustainable Communities Conference and Trade Show in Ottawa last week, attended by Mayor Janice Perrino.
She said Summerland has worked at creating a walkable community.
“The award was given because of a residential development category in our zoning bylaw review plan,” she said. “Our goal was to increase the density within a 10-minute walking area from the core of the downtown. The idea is that this would help to increase the population closest to schools, community activities, shopping and would be the best use of land that is already serviced with sewer and water.”
Summerland adopted the updated zoning bylaw last September, along with minor updates to the Official Community Plan to allow higher densities and new intensification zones.
The residential development award was for projects or programs that focus on making changes to the municipal regulatory environment to improve housing affordability and housing options. Eligible initiatives included the development of or changes to municipal bylaws, building codes, development standards, renovation guidelines and approval procedures that help reduce the cost of housing or increase housing options.
Other winners were chosen from across Canada for green initiatives including energy efficiency and waste management. They are:
• Brownfields: City of New Westminster, B.C.— Westminster Pier Park
• Buildings: Town of Oakville, Ont. — Green Buildings and Initiatives
• Energy: City of Montréal, Que. — A Space for Life — Energy Efficiency Program
• Energy: Rural Municipality of Ritchot, Man. — Île-des-Chênes Community Centre District Geothermal Project
• Planning: City of Vancouver, B.C. — Greenest City Action Plan
• Planning: Town of Drayton Valley, Alta. — Community Sustainability Plan
• Planning - Neighbourhood: City of Terrebonne, Que. — Côte Terrebonne Master Plan for Sustainable Development (Urbanova)
• Transportation: City of Waterloo, Ont. — Davenport Road Multi-Use Corridor Improvement
• Transportation: City of Sainte-Julie, Que. — Taxi 12-17
• Waste: Columbia Shuswap Regional District, B.C. — Capture and Beneficial Use of Landfill Gas and Leachate at the Salmon Arm Landfill
• Water: City of Cranbrook, B.C. — Wastewater Improvement Project
A video of Summerland’s submission can be viewed at http://fcm.ca/home/awards/fcm-sustainable-communities-awards/2012-winners/residential-development.htm