CAC Crowdsourced Climate Implications
Crowdsourced - Planning for new townhouse development
Crowdsourced Report - OP Amendment for Townhouse Development
Crowdsourced1
Executive summary
OP Amendment – New Development of a Townhouse Development
- Crowdsourced effort provides an overview of the questions/climate considerations related to a new Townhouse development. The questions however, would apply to any new development.
Climate implications
Climate Implications
- Increases energy use & GHG emissions
- Reduces permeable surfaces, thereby increasing flood risk
Climate Opportunities/Interventions
- Contributes to the intensification of the urban area, rather than urban sprawl, using existing infrastructure
- Introduces additional residents to parks, neighbourhood conveniences and transit services; the urban environment supports reduced vehicle trip lengths, transit usage, and reduced GHG emissions.
- Increases the site’s impervious surface but will improve conditions for surrounding properties by directing drainage towards the main street and improving resilience related to stormwater and drainage management.
- Will include an EV charging station and all units EV conversion ready
- All residents will have the option of generating a portion of their energy needs through a solar rooftop energy supply
- Sustainable design measures will be reviewed and considered at the site plan stage
CAC Crowdsourced Questions:
- Was this the best use of land to meet housing and climate needs?
- Has consideration been given to the embodied carbon of building materials?
- What is the impact on local wildlife and ecosystems?
- Will the new development be hooked up to the local gas line or be equipped with heat pumps? Will it use fossil fuels or electricity?
- In detail, how does this development increase energy use and what are the GHG implications, either quantitative or comparative to green development standard and council policy?
- Is council policy being met? (i.e., green development standards)
- Has the climate been considered since the project plan began?
- Is this development ‘future ready’? (Is it being designed with easy modification for things like district energy, EVs, etc.)
- Maybe a follow-up to energy audit – is the plan in alignment with energy audit recommendations?
- The time to get to cost neutrality – As the carbon tax increases, people want to know how long before electrification breaks even
- If this is a change in land use, is this in alignment with density targets?
- Location relative to active transportation routes?
- Location to public transit routes?
- If this is a change in land use, is it in alignment with diversity targets?
- Has orientation of the site to take [the] greatest advantage of potential solar been considered
- Relation to floodplain
- Relation to floodplain and Stormwater retention on-site through Low-Impact Development (LID), permeable paving, has that been considered and if not included, why isn’t it included?
- Preservation of existing trees?
- New development? What are the plans for a walkable, bikeable environment? Are grocery stores within walking distance?
- Proximity to amenities, schools, work to encourage walking/biking and minimize car use