HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRPS-07-072 - Environment Comm Recommendation: Air Quality in Kitchener - Five Best Bets for 2007Report To: Councillor C. Weylie, Chair and Members of the Development
and Technical Services Committee
Date of Meeting: May 28, 2007
Submitted By: Environmental Committee
Prepared By: Colin Goodeve, Committee Administrator - ext 2278
Wards} Involved: All
Date of Report: May 18, 2007
Report No.: CRPS-07-072
Subject: ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: AIR
QUALITY IN KITCHENER -FIVE BEST BETS FOR 2007
RECOMMENDATION:
That the in accordance with the Air Quality in Kitchener (2006} report the following be
approved as the Five Best Bets for 2007:
Best Bet #1 -Support compact urban development;
Best Bet #2 -Seek continuous improvement from ICI (Industrial /Commercial 1
Institutional} point sources by developing a tiered approach that
includes incentives and flexible regulatory approaches;
Best Bet #3 -Facilitate Modal Shift to Bicycle Transportation;
Best Bet #4 -Enhance Green Space Management; and,
Best Bet #5 -Incentives for Energy Efficient Development; and further,
That staff be directed to investigate the feasibility and, if appropriate, pursue the
implementation of the Air Quality in Kitchener Five Best Bets for 2007 and associated
sub-action items, as outlined in Corporate Services Department report CRPS-07-072.
BACKGROUND:
In May 2006, the Environmental Committee presented to Council a report entitled Air Quality in
Kitchener (2006}. The report was the culmination of a year of deliberations by members of the
Environmental Committee responding to direction from Council in November of 2004 to develop
a long-term, "comprehensive plan" on the air quality in the City of Kitchener. The report included
a series of X50+} Recommended Actions and, in 2006, five (5} of these actions (Five Best Bets}
were put forward by the Environmental Committee for investigation by staff into their feasibility
and potential implementation. On July 4, 2006, Council, at the request of the Environmental
Committee, directed staff to commence an examination into the feasibility and means of
implementing the Five Best Bets for 2006.
The timing for the annual Five Bests Bets (i.e. five (5) of the 50+ Recommended Actions)
selection was set to permit their public announcement on Clean Air Day, a day proclaimed by
the Government of Canada, and occurring on the first or second Wednesday of June each year
as part of Canadian Environment Week. In 2007, Clean Air Day is June 6.
Subject to Council's approval of the annual Five Best Bets, all affected Departments, Divisions,
and/or staff will be notified and requested to commence their study on each Recommended
Action's feasibility for implementation. Following this, the affected staff should consider the
advisability and necessary steps, including budget requirements, in implementing the
Recommended Actions throughout the summer months. Budget requests should be accordingly
made in the early autumn pleading to the administrative review process of budget}. In
September, at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Environmental Committee, staff are
requested to provide an update on their investigation into each of the Five Best Bets. This does
not have to be as formal as a staff report but may be accomplished through internal memoranda
/ emails to Environmental Committee support staff Environmental Planner and/or Committee
Administrator) who will attach the information to the agenda and/or personal presentations} at
the Committee meeting. Subsequent to Council finalizing its coming year's budget, staff are to
provide apost-budget progress report regarding the investigation and/or implementation of the
Five Bests Bets usually in January. Finally, staff are to report back formally at the April meeting
of the Environmental Committee on each of the Five Best Bets from the previous year.
REPORT:
At the May 17, 2007 Environmental Committee meeting, the Committee reviewed the remaining
50+ Recommended Actions outlined in the Air Quality in Kitchener X2006} report. Based on that
review, the Committee has selected the following Five Best Bets for 2007 and associated sub-
action items:
Best Bet #~ -Support compact urban development
In accordance with the proposed 2007 Best Bet #1 [Recommended Action 2.3 from the Air
Quality in Kitchener report (2006}], the Environmental Committee recommends that Planning
and Economic Development staff:
1 ~a) Consider adopting approval processes which are supportive of compact urban
development, including consideration of "fast -tracking" the necessary development
approvals; and,
1 fib) Pursue policies and implement actions that target the re-development of Brownfield
properties including establishing incentives (financial and non-financial) and creating
partnerships with other parties.
Best Bet #2 -Seek continuous improvement from ICI point sources by developing a
tiered approach that includes incentives and flexible regulatory approaches
In accordance with the proposed 2007 Best Bet #2 [Recommended Action 1.16 from the Air
Quality in Kitchener report X2006)], the Environmental Committee recommends that Planning,
Facilities Management and Economic Development staff:
2~a) Create an incentive program to promote naturalized landscape designs for institutional,
industrial and commercial sites ~e.g. provide an award for best naturalized design
through the City of Kitchener Urban Design Awards program};
2~b) Implement LEED principles of site design, where feasible, on all new private and city-
owned developments;
2~c} Implement pollution prevention and eco-efficiency measures (e.g. LEED, LEED-EB
principles) to retrofits of existing city facilities and proposed new facilities;
2~d) Seek to have industrial development designed to accommodate the use of bicycles,
walking, showers etc. (e.g. currently industrial lands/business parks do not have
sidewalks or destinations to walk to);
2~e) Include plans and opportunities for continuous support of new and retrofitted green
practices and technologies;
2~f} Advocate for management of emissions from ICI point sources in conjunction with local
air quality initiatives; and,
2~g) Develop business assistance and recognition programs to encourage businesses to
adopt pollution prevention and eco-efficiency measures (e.g. LEED incentives}.
Best Bet #3 -Facilitate Modal Shift to Bicycle Transportation
The City of Kitchener developed the Kitchener "Bikeway Study" (Staff Report PD 98/72, dated
May 6,1998). The study's objectives were as follows:
i) develop and implement a detailed City network of on and off-street bike lanes,
routes and paths linking the Regional system, community trails, major recreational
and employment destinations and communities;
ii) develop local street and intersection designs to accommodate bikeways;
iii) design bikeway facilities at transit terminals; and,
iv} develop and implement a program which facilitates and encourages greater and
safer use of the bicycle as a meaningful mode of transportation.
Since that time there has been considerable, and often technical, input to the City from Waterloo
Region Concerned Cyclists (WRCC). In October 2006, City staff noted that a number of
initiatives put forward by the WRCC would require a significant amount of time and staff
resources to pursue and that, as these initiatives were not included in the 2006 Budget, staff
have been limited as to what they have been able to undertake.
At that time, staff also noted there has been a recent increase in interest among staff in
pursuing the development of a City-wide Master Transportation Plan and that an aspect of that
Plan's development would include updating the "Bikeway Study" and would accordingly address
a number of the cyclist parking issues raised by WRCC. The cycling community should be fully
consulted in any such update to ensure that the full value of any investments in bicycling be
realized through increased bicycle ridership.
In accordance with the proposed 2007 Best Bet #3 [Recommended Action 2.8 from the Air
Quality in Kitchener report (2006)], the Environmental Committee recommends that
Transportation Planning staff:
3~a) Revisit the "Bikeway Study" and have the cycling community (including WRCC),
participate in the update, set a timeline, and determine budget and staff requirements
necessary to implement the updated recommendations. In so doing, staff should tie in
this update with the transportation demand management initiative being undertaken by
the City; and,
3~b) Review the Transportation Demand Management ~TDM} study and the revised "Bikeway
Study" to look for gaps and integrate them (e.g. the City should ensure that pedestrian
crossings and cycling issues at roundabouts are addressed in any TDM study and or
updated "Bikeway Study").
Best Bet #4 -Enhance Green Space Management
In accordance with the proposed 2007 Best Bet #4 [Recommended Action 2.5 from the Air
Quality in Kitchener report X2006)], the Environmental Committee recommends that Planning,
Community Services, Communications and Enforcement staff:
4~a) Adopt a regulatory process to ensure natural features ~e.g. unevaluated wetlands,
hedgerows woodlots etc.} of greenfields are protected and preserved in such areas prior
to the approval process for development of projects thereon;
4~b) Investigate partnerships to educate residents of the environmental benefits of trees in
general, but particularly native species, and provide incentives for planting trees such as
re-introducing the Trees for our Future program with an aggressive promotional
campaign;
4~c} Consider implementing a regulatory process whereby lots in new residential
developments are mandated to have, at a minimum, one tree at the front of each
dwelling with native species being used where appropriate; and,
4~d) Provide incentives to encourage homeowners to naturalize their front yards ~e.g. turf
alternative landscape designs}.
Best Bet #5 -Incentives for Energy Efficient Development
In accordance with the proposed 2007 Best Bet #5 [Recommended Action 1.21 from the Air
Quality in Kitchener report X2006)], the Environmental Committee recommends that Planning,
Building and Engineering staff:
5~a) Investigate the possibility of providing incentives to encourage a developer to undertake
a large-scale, energy efficient marketable demonstration project utilizing clean, energy
efficient space heating (e.g. low-energy-use building and operations, community energy
systems and alternatives to fuel combustion such as geo-exchange, solar applications
etc. all intended to reduce emissions of particulate matter, criteria air contaminants and
greenhouse gases}.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
None at this time.
Colin Goodeve
Committee Administrator