Livable Cities, Greener Neighbourhoods: Sustainable Community Design in Dieppe, New Brunswick Dalhousie University Thayer Nugent Jose Canjura James Bryndza

Objective To create a Sustainable Community Design that provides housing and protects environmentally sensitive areas in a subdivision of Dieppe, New Brunswick How does the current regulatory framework encourage or restrict the design, and what changes would help implement it?

Method Site analysis conducted by biologists from the Universite de Moncton and NBCC Moncton Literature Review Design process Policy and plan review Affordable housing Recommendations

Background Dieppe population is 15,000 and growing Economy is healthy Need for an open space network Rise in the demand for semi-detached homes and apartments Development pressure: how to accommodate it?

Sustainable Community Design Inspired by Conservation Design Principles: –connected open space –compact living Community Resource Inventory –Primary/secondary conservation areas –Potentially developable area Different density options: gross versus net Flexible applications: continuum of encouragement

Site Background The site is 25.7 acres ( ha), located approximately 3.5 km from the city centre Urban fringe area, low density

The Site

Conventional Yield Plan

Basic Conservation – 21 unitsBasic Conservation – 43 units Basic Conservation 71 units Medium Density Upper Medium Density Urban Density Most homes are single unit dwellings

Enhanced Conservation– 39Enhanced Conservation–78 units Enhanced Conservation – 107 units Medium Density Upper Medium Density Urban Density

Village Design – 71 unitsVillage Design – 143 Village Design – 179 Medium Density Upper Medium Density Urban Density

Recommended Design Concept

Recommended Design – Land Use Map

Comparing the alternatives

What current zoning (RA) allows: 2 hectare lots What R1 zoning allows: Single unit dwellings as main use (with some low intensity secondary uses). Lot area: 540 m2 Frontage: 18 m Setback: 6 m Regulatory Framework

Municipal Policy: –Municipal Development Plan –Subdivision By-law –Zoning By-law Provincial Policy: –Community Planning Act –Condominium Act –Conservation Easement Act –Watercourse Regulations

How to make SCD possible: Site specific Two implementation options: Change zoning from RA to ID Create a development scheme Different housing types/tenure could provide affordable housing options

How to make SCD possible: general recommendations Community Resource Inventory –Would identify optimal areas for development –Open spaces should be connected and incorporated into proposed trail network plan Review MDP –To encourage open space connectivity –Review Minimum road standards

How to make SCD possible, cont… Zoning by-law –New mixed use zone – could allow developer option of SCD –Integrated open space zone Subdivision by-law –Too rigid: lot sizes, frontages, lot types, road sizes Legislation to protect open space –Multiple holdings

Thank you. Questions?

For more information Please contact For general concept: Department of the Environment and Local Government – Daniel Savard (506) , Local implementation: Ville de Dieppe - André Daigle (506) , Support organizations: Conservation Development Alliance – John-Paul Warren (416) ,