Sea-to-Sky Greenbelt Presentation to the District of West Vancouver Monday May 26 th, 2008 Ione Smith, Special Projects Coordinator, Smart Growth BC

Sea-to-Sky Greenbelt Outline Smart Growth BC Greenbelt -Vision and Goals -Sea-to-Sky Context Timeline Next Steps Case Study Partners and Funders

Smart Growth BC Founded in 1999, Smart Growth BC is a charitable non-profit organization with a mandate to create more livable communities in British Columbia. Through… Research Policy Alternatives Community Engagement Implementation

10 Smart Growth Principles 1 Mix land uses 2 Compact neighbourhoods 3 Transportation choices 4 Affordable housing opportunities 5 Encourage growth in existing areas 6 Preserve natural areas 7 Protect and enhance agricultural land 8 Infrastructure efficiency 9 Foster a unique community identity 10 Nurture engaged citizens

Context for renewed efforts in the corridor Olympic Games Highway 99 + Changing demographic = Unprecedented development pressures and ecological vulnerability Sea-to-Sky Context

Many land use plans currently being completed or under review. Several types of protected areas: parks, conservancies, recreation areas, riparian areas, wildland zones. Missing critical connection and cumulative perspective on where all the future growth will occur in relation to protected areas. Lack of initiatives to identify which key parcels could be identified as priority for future protection based on connectivity.

Greenbelt Vision Vision: “ The Sea-to-Sky Greenbelt will be a world-renowned example of what can be accomplished by respecting our spectacular natural resources while enhancing community livability. Urban and rural settlements from West Vancouver in the South to D’Arcy in the North will each exemplify the principles of smart growth: vibrant economies in compact communities with unique village centres. Each community will be surrounded by a defined growth boundary outside of which will remain pristine recreational lands, productive farming and forestry lands, and protected wilderness areas.”

Goals Goals: To connect land parcels designated as parks, recreational areas, and wilderness zones in order to create a contiguous greenway. The Greenbelt's success will depend upon a collaborative effort of a coalition made up of developers, community organizations, business associations, First Nations, local and regional government, and environmental organizations. Ultimately, the Greenbelt will act in a similar fashion to Metro Vancouver’s “Green Zone”, the Capital Region District’s “Sea to Sea Green Blue Belt”, or the South Okanagan-Similkameen Conservation Program.

Already identified and protected By the numbers: Squamish First Nation wild spirit areas:  82,000 ha (26,000 ha is Garibaldi Park). New LRMP conservancies:  44,800 ha. Existing provincial parks and protected areas:  232,000 ha.

Opportunities to collaborate Other initiatives and groups: North Cascades & Pacific Range Ecoregional Assessment Squamish River Watershed Society Sea-to-Sky Trails Initiative Slow Food Cycle Get Bear Smart Society City Green Solutions Pemberton Valley Trails Association Howe Sound Community Forum BC Healthy Communities AWARE Whistler Forum Sea-to-Sky Community Services Society

Timeline 2006: building relationships; 2007: outreach (newsletter, listserv, website, launch); 2008: knowledge development (maps, case studies, designation options) and research extension; 2009: development of implementation strategy; 2010: final Sea-to-Sky Greenbelt plan launched

Up to now… Have held many meetings Have begun to execute mapping Haven’t secured $ to purchase any land Will not require more intensive public planning processes Will require political support from all levels – motions of support once the mapping has been completed Media: Whistler Question front page Nov 22, 2007 The Tyee Top 12 Ideas for 2008 Vancouver Co-op Radio

Request Smart Growth BC would like to co-host a public workshop in West Vancouver to relay the results of the mapping exercises, present the public with the map of the potential boundary of the Greenbelt, and to discuss local opportunities for involvement in the Greenbelt initiative. Workshop would likely be held in September or October 2008.

Case Study Sea to Sea Green Blue Belt on Vancouver Island: A vast expanse of wilderness, recreation land and marine areas running across Southern Vancouver Island from Saanich Inlet to the Sooke Basin. The Green Blue Belt will create a 12,000 hectare corridor of protected wilderness and parkland. Currently over 90% complete: includes Kapoor Regional Park, Sooke Potholes Regional Park, Sea to Sea Green Blue Belt Regional Reserve, Ayum Creek Regional Park. Partners: Capital Region District, TLC The Land Conservancy of BC, Habitat Acquisition Trust, The Government of Canada, Society for the Protection of Ayum Creek, Province of BC

Partners and Funders Partners: Funders:

Questions? Resources: FAQs Case studies E-newsletters Listserv Contact: Ione Smith W Pender Vancouver V6B 1T6

Case Study Metro Vancouver’s Green Zone Greater Vancouver Regional Greenway Vision approved in 1999 to implement Green Zone policies; Greenway Vision includes recreational and environmental greenways (paths, trails, environmental corridors); Defines a limit to urban expansion and fosters a shared sense of commitment between communities to protect the lands within it; Includes: community health lands (watersheds and floodplains), ecologically important areas (wetlands and wildlife habitat), outdoor recreational areas (parks), renewable resource lands (farms and forests); 54,000 ha of ALR land; 22 regional parks = 11,400 ha and attracts 6 million visitors.