Sustainable Okotoks

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Sustainable Okotoks Leave a Legacy
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CALGARY REGION
Sheep River
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OKOTOKS THEN
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NOW
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THE SHEEP RIVER
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OKOTOKS THE BIG PICTURE
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WHY BE A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY?
Necessity Desire Willingness Commitment
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NECESSITY

• Municipal Development Plan
• Inter-municipal Development Plan
• Land Use Bylaw

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What Kind of Community Do We Want to Pass on to
the Next Generation?
Planned Growth Without Limits By Intent -
Regional Utilities Continuous Boundary
Adjustments Continuous Annexation as Required
Traditional Planning
OR
Planned Destiny Live Within the Environmental
Carrying Capacity of the Sheep River Minor
Boundary Adjustments Self Reliance Long Term
Watershed Management
Choosing for Ourselves
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DESIRE
Town Councils Vision
In the year 2010, the City of Okotoks, in the
pristine Sheep River Valley, will be an
environmentally sensitive and responsible
community for people who enjoy a quality of life
and a shared vision of prosperity and harmony.
Through participative local government, the city
will demonstrate regional leadership in
sustainable development, economic partnerships
and holistic approach to community well-being.
Okotoks will be synonymous with vision and
accomplishment.
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WILLINGNESS
Prepare to take the challenge of creating a
sustainable future. Demonstrate a willingness to
listen/analyze ideas outside the
box. Demonstrate a willingness to consult with
residents, as to their wants and needs.
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COMMITMENT
2003 Community Survey Highlights
92 of residents shop in Okotoks. 93 support
the municipal purchase of river valley lands for
preservation purposes. 79 support
diversification of housing to provide affordable
and varied housing choices.
82 support the Towns direction of a population
cap of 25,000 to 30,000 residents. 93 of
residents recycle. 75 of residents compost.
93 of residents support the Towns continued
role of providing water conservation and
recycling education programs.
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WHAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTED

• Diversity of Housing
• Recreation
• A Clean Environment
• Local Services/Shopping
• Local Employment
• Retain Small Town feel
• Lifestyle/Quality of Life
• Safety
• Affordability
• Education

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THE FOUR FOUNDATIONS OF Sustainable Okotoks
Environmental Stewardship Economic
Opportunity Social Conscience Fiscal
Responsibility
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SELECTED TARGETS OF Sustainable Okotoks

• Build Out Population of 25,000 30,000
• 50 of population north of the river
• 50 south of the river (downtown as geographic
  centre)
• 22 of total assessment base is non
  residential
  
• 20 of total land area is open space
• 100 river valley lands owned by Town of Okotoks
  
• Density 11.5 residential units per gross
  hectare
  
• 300 liters (70 gallons) per capita water use
  per day
• 20 reduction in CO2 emissions

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THE REACTION
Can It Be Done?
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SMART GROWTH Clear targets negotiated well in
advance Gradual/managed evolution of land
use 15-20 year build out No significant
annexation Density targets for new
development Sustainable neighborhood design
Comprehensive community plans
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GOOD GOVERNANCE

• Engagement in hearts and minds
• Participative
• Grass roots support
• Nurturing a safe and caring social fabric

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CORPORATE COMMITMENT

• Sustainable Okotoks is not a project or
  department of, its a way of doing business.
• Twenty two Business Centres all have well
  defined tactical plans benchmarks, which are
  evaluated annually and aligned with Council
  objectives.
• Staff awareness and commitment with
  recognition of innovation risk-taking.

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NETWORKING FOR SUCCESS
Calgary Regional Partnership University of
Calgary Sustainable Neighborhood Design AUMA
Building Eco-Efficiency (renewable energy
aggregation) Pembina Institute C02 emissions
reduction targets Watershed PFRA, NRCan,
Alberta Environment, Private Sector Natural
Resources Canada/Climate Change Central seasonal
solar storage neighborhood Water for Life
Albertas Sustainability Strategy (Alberta Water
Council)
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SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
Comprised of 3 Key Elements

• Recycling
• Refuse Collection Disposal
• Composting

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WATER MANAGEMENT

• Target
• 30 per capita water reduction use (15 years)
• 300 liters (70 gallons) per/person

Highlights River Water Quality Monitoring
System Municipal Water Management Plan
Consumption based utility rate structure
Municipal Xeriscaping Horticultural Extension
Resource Office
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LOCAL EMPLOYMENT
Agriculture Education Construction Transportati
on Trade Professional Services Retail Home-Bas
ed Business
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LIFESTYLE
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SAFE COMMUNITY
Fully integrated Emergency Response Service with
police, fire and ambulance.
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ARTS CULTURE
Heritage House Museum Archives Rotary
Performing Arts Centre Okotoks Cultural Centre
Art Gallery Public Library Downtown Heritage
Walking Tour
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RECREATION
Three Golf Courses 86 Parks 40 Playgrounds 40 KM
of Interconnected hiking/biking trails Recreation
Centre with 2 arenas, 6 curling sheets, and 4
lane (25 meter) swimming pool 13 ball diamonds, 2
football fields, 2 rugby fields 18 soccer fields
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ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Annual River Clean Up Three Bag Garbage
Limit Water Conservation Initiatives (odd/even
watering schedule, water meters, low flow
household fixtures) Community Composting Comprehen
sive Recycling Program Integrated Pest Management
Program
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ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Solar Heating Installations in Okotoks
Swindells Pool - Solar Water Heating
System Murray Piper Arenas - Solar Ice
Resurfacing System Recycling Centre Cardboard
Bailing Building Solar Heating System Operations
Building Solar Wall Heating System
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ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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FIRST SOLAR HEATED COMMUNITY IN NORTH AMERICA
Natural Resources Canada R-2000 Certified Built
Green Alberta Gold Standard
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Over 800 solar collectors will generate up to 1.5
MW of thermal power 90 of space heating needs
met with solar power 4.5 tonnes less Greenhouse
Gas Emissions than traditional homes Superior
insulation, low-flow plumbing fixtures, advanced
appliances and low-impact landscaping
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1200 - 1600 Sq. ft., two storey, single family
homes Designed to work and feel conventional
inside and out. 22 x 22 rear detached garages
have linked roofs creating a breezeway effect,
required for the quantity of solar collectors
needed Two solar collectors are mounted on the
house roof for the Solar Domestic Hot Water
(SDHW) system.
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Key Partners
Natural Resources Canada Federation of Canadian
Municipalities Province of Alberta Climate Change
Central EnerWorks Town of Okotoks ATCO Gas United
Communities Sterling Homes
Energy Centre Building
Borehole Field
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HOUSING

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AFFORDABILITY
2002 2003 2004
2005
Typical Single Housing Assessment Total Tax
Rate Total Taxes
170,870 179,410 195,310
204,420
1.155
1.154 1.078 1.046
1,973.55 2,048.70
2104.00 2137.50

• Total taxes payable increased approximately
  121.00 over 6 years
• Average increase approximately 1 per year

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WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

• Leap Outside the Box
• Create a clear vision
• Make your goals tangible and deliverable
• Find Form Partnerships
• Ask Who Needs to be at the Table?
• (administration, public, council, developers,
  provincial departments, etc.)
• Make sustainability the business that youre in
  not a program
• Adapt and Adopt from others

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Build a community you can be proud of! Leave a
positive legacy for future generations!
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We didnt inherit the Earth from our parents.
Were borrowing it from our children. Chief
Seattle (1788-1866)