REPORT 10 Full Pages Plus 2 Pages of Exhibit

REPORT 10 Full Pages Plus 2 Pages of Exhibit

Date: February 15, 2002

To: Planning and Development Committee

From: Paul Fenwick, General Manager, Community Services Department

Subject: Regional Issues ~ Meeting February 6, 2002-Findings and Discussion

Background:

The purpose of the "Regional Issues Assessment", approved by the province under the Regional Growth Strategy Planning Grant Program, is to identify and confirm growth-related issues and to assess the appropriateness of programs and tools to deal with them. The terms of reference require that public input be a component of this assessment. "Focus Workshops" with representatives from community associations, economic and environmental groups were conducted as a component of public input.

Invited representatives of Community groups and associations met on February 6th, 2002 as the initial "Focus Workshop". Attendees were informed that as participants from local communities, their input is greatly valued and will form an in important part of the findings and recommendations for this initiative.

The purpose of this report is to summarize the input received and to arrange for its distribution to the participants.

Other inputs into the study include:

· Interviews with senior government officials

· Community survey

· Input from local government non-elected officials

· Input from the Intergovernmental meeting

· lssues data.

Report:

Methodology

SORD staff evaluated the Intergovernmental meeting and modified the format to cover issues in greater detail by dividing up the work amongst groups but still allowing all participants to speak to an issue. In addition, a meeting questionnaire was distributed.

The first exercise was to identify highest priority issues. Groups were each required to identify the three most significant future growth related issues. Next, a structured review of issues was undertaken similarly to that at the Intergovernmental meeting.

Exhibit 1 lists those that attended this workshop.

Page 2

What are the Three Most pressing/significant issues on the Sunshine Coast?

Group 1

1. Water

2. Quality of environment

3. Sustainable Economy

Group 2

1. Balancing sustainable population and services - based on ability of ecology to support

2. Water - including conservation and protection

3. Jobs

Group 3

1. Sustainable quality of life

2. Sustainable employment

3. Sustainable infrastructure and affordable housing (water, sewer, roads)

Group 4

1. Water

2. Healthcare

3. Sustainable economic transition resource alternatives – “new Economy”

All of the groups identified water issues as significant. One of the groups noted that the water issue is one of conservation and protection.

Three of the four groups noted a similar issue i.e. quality of environment/ecoIogy/quaIity of life/sustainability.

Three groups noted jobs/employment/sustainable economy and the four .h group noted a related issue i.e. the sustainable transition from an economy based on resources to a new economy.

One group identified healthcare and another sustainable infrastructure (water, sewer, and roads).

Discussion

All of the above issues relate to dealing with growth and change and to identifying and planning for quality of life issues.

Page 3

What are the housing and residential land use issues?

> Level of commercial activity in residential areas

> Type of housing

> Affordable housing

> Providing a diversity of housing

> Conflict between residential and other land uses

~ Locating new housing to minimize ecological footprint

> Providing maximum/optimum green space availability for higher density

> Not enough comfortable seniors housing

> Diversity of housing options, not a broad outlook, alternate housing options

> Not enough affordable housing for bottom 50% income

> Balanced, mixed communities, seniors, families, singles

> Alternate tenure option other than ownership (e.g. c0-housing, co-op, council housing, strata title, rental)

> ALP potential loss due to housing; also from logged areas

~ OCP threat from ~outsiders

> Cluster housing with greenways

~ Allow co-housing, more flex zoning and building standards

Discussion

Some of these issues could be described as having more of a local or neighbourhood focus e.g. level of commercial activity in residential areas, conflict between housing and other land uses, balanced mixed communities and threat to OCPs from outsiders (i.e. new residents with different values than the previous community).

Other issues are more strategic or regional in nature i.e. affordable housing, locating new housing to minimize ecological footprint, ALR issues.

The community focus groups are very aware of the challenges of addressing demographically induced demands in the housing market e.g. housing the poor, diversity of housing options and housing for seniors.

Page 4

What are the social issues?

~ Remains a good place to raise children

~ Substance abuse - greater difficulties with larger population

~ Providing services for seniors

~ Providing adequate support for cultural infrastructure

~ Reconciliation with First Nations

> How do we maintain social safety net

~ Maintaining viable and suitable economic activity

~ Provision of continuing care, no local control over health care facilities

> Provision of adequate public transportation

> Demographic imbalance

> Increasing economic disparity

~ Social displacement

> Inability to provide facilities as needs identified

> Neighbourhood/community inter-relationships - knowing your neighbours

~ High cost of food on Sunshine Coast

~ Slum landlords

~ Cost of housing

Discussion

Bigger picture or strategic social issues include quality of life issues (a good place to raise children, reconciliation with First Nations, demographic imbalance, and economic issues).

Issues related to program delivery or problem solving include substance abuse in the community, the provision of adequate transportation, high cost of food and housing.

Page 5

What are the Issues Related to the Provision of Water to the Sunshine Coast?

> Quality

> Quantity

> Timing of flows

~ Governance - control of water source

~ Remediation of past damage to community watersheds

~ Costs of providing

~ Consumption/conservation

> Harnessing existing water

> More storage capacity - make better use of existing sources

~ Protect ground water sources

> Control of activities, land use and tenure in watershed

~ Governance - Provincial control - how management occurs - who is responsible

> Individual and community usage

~ Water quality - public health - health of environment Watershed protection - other sources protection

~ Protect wells I groundwater

~ Sewage from boats/cruise ships and others Chlorine treatment

~ Limits to growth due to water supply

~ Industrial water use - e.g. mill, gravel pit

Discussion

Fundamental issues regarding water identified at this workshop include questions of governance and control, watershed and groundwater protection and limits to growth due to water supply and existing domestic and industrial use.

Individual concerns include impact from sewage, chorine treatment of public water supply, and individual and community usage.

Page 6

What are the Issues Related to Transportation and its lntegration with various land use issues?

> Should rural areas become more rural or should all areas have some growth? i.e. luster for transportation

> Improve ferry service for islands, e.g. Gambier, Keats

> Grid system for roads needed - more efficient for transit and private cars

~ Transit support working hours

> Non-motorized transportation links - greenways - pathways - also link transit

> Seniors population - locate multiple family housing conveniently to transit

> Youth - transit needs

~ By-pass highway required

> BC Ferries - summer congestion and delays - priority for residents and discount to Sunshine Coast residents

> Ferry: Passenger

Late night service

Fares for students

Equitable service with other communities Waste water on ferries

Foot passenger service big communities

Integrate bus and ferry schedule better

> Automobile: Dependence on personal vehicles; Big source of air pollution

> Accommodate tourist use

> Bicycle/pedestrian footpaths along highway - provide alternate routes away from highway

~ Few options for recreation/tourism without vehicle

~ Development along main roads

> Poor quality of road construction, e.g. asphalt falling into ditches, roads falling apart

> Inter-community ferries again

~ Style of road construction and more aesthetic, less expensive

> Preserve access to and along waterfront

> Transit - use more little buses; taxis - who is licensed - offcoast

> Bridges vs culverts

Discussion

This topic evoked policy and operational feedback. The interrelationships between land use, settlement and transportation were appreciated e.g. should some rural areas become more urbanised to support improved transportation systems? Can the road system be changed to allow more options for traffic e.g. grid system, a by-pass? Alternate transportation modes are suggested e.g. footpaths and bikeways. One participant felt solving transportation problems leads to ugly and expensive roads and that standards should be reviewed. Transit is seen as deserving improvement and development should be approved that augments transit e.g. multiple family dwellings near transit.

Page 7

The ferry service is a key issue particularly in summer. Several suggestions were given to improve ferry access.

It is acknowledged the passenger car is needed in the linear Sun 3hine Coast but community participants are worried about the associated pollution and other impacts.

What are the Issues Related to the Environment, Parks and Recreation?

~ Maintain / protect the sensitive ecosystem e.g. wetlands, watershed, Elphinstone mushrooms, endangered plant species, estuaries and streams

> Use eco-system model to plan the Sunshine Coast, e.g. Herb Hammond

> Tax incentives to protect ecosystem on private land

> FLR - loss of forest

> Burning - air quality

~ Storm water management

~ Sustainable agriculture

> Control of pesticides, herbicides

> Greenways corridors - interconnect green space

~ Population growth pressures on environment resources, e.g. water use, land/marine paces require regulations

> Fish populations

> Resources depleting

> Pollution: air - pulp mill, lots of water use

Industry accountable/sustainable including tourism

> Sustainable industries, encourage local based business

> Provincial agencies downloading recreation to local government - devolution without financing

> Disparity of facilities/parks with Powell River; inequitable distribution of $ and parks creation

> More facilities for youth - soccer fields

> Aquatic facility needed

~ Threat to community schools

~ Inadequate eco-system preservation

> Water zoning

> Shoreline jurisdiction

> Sewage treatment challenges

This large topic elicited interesting input from the Community Focus Group. From an overall planning perspective, some representatives would like to see an "ecological planning" model to foster growth and development in greater harmony with natural Systems. This would address existing concerns over population pressure on environmental features and sensitive ecosystems.

Other environmental issues include control of pesticides, air quality, and sewage treatment.

The group noted the need for an aquatic facility and more facilities for youth.

Page 8

What are the economic and employment issues?

~ Better jobs - minimum wage

~ Shift away from dependent on primary resource base

~ Economic development to support the unique community

~ Only have sustainable tourism

~ Need greater access to post-secondary education on the Coast

~ Incubate local tourism entrepreneurs

~ Enhance value added production

~ Attract more employment/services, e.g. high tech

~ What about green development - i.e. Smart Growth

> Green development - a growth industry opportunity

~ Sunshine Coast = sustainable development capital of ________ (theme)

~ Woodcraft medicinals from forest

~ Uncertain global implications- effect on Coast

~ Big box stores affect local business

~ Underground economy affect not recognized

~ Lack of meaningful employment

~ Self employment support necessary

~ Too much seasonal fluctuations on employment

~ Coast does not have a '&theme" to promote community

~ Cultural theme could be promoted more

~ Develop other theme strategies

~ Encourage Sechelt First Nations Culture

~ Promote escape from city theme

~ Support arts community

~ More low paying jobs than high paying

~ Not enough affordable retraining/education

~ Few agriculture productions, not sustainable for food

~ Economic employment opportunities

Community group in put suggests the Sunshine Coast is dealing with a major shift away from a strong resource sector without a sustainable replacement economy. Nevertheless (due to in-migration and some local growth) the impacts of greater urbanisation are being felt e.g. big box stores. Some participants see increased urbanisation as a benefit e.g. tourism, value added industry, high tech. Others see a greater need to protect the uniqueness of the Sunshine Coast setting and existing community and to build on those strengths through green or "smart" development.

Page 9

There appears to be a strong acknowledgement of existing structural problems in employment (or more critically unemployment or underemployment). Individuals have had to be creative to stay on the Sunshine Coast hence an underground economy.

Potential economic stimulators outlined by the Community Focus Group include: access greater post secondary education, incubate local entrepreneurs e.g. tourism, develop non traditional forest products, consider a community "theme", and encourage groups like the arts community and First Nations to generate cultural spin offs.

Community Focus Group Meeting Questionnaire Findings

Exhibit 2is the detailed data from these questionnaires.

Discussion

The Community Focus Group strongly supports an initiative to address issues on a regional basis. The only caveat is that local OCPs must continue to exist and reflect local values. Question #2 amplifies the above finding. The general comments (question #3) provide additional details regarding the issues identified d in the group discussions. The ecological theme continues. One individual commented that as well as an overall plan, certain government functions (among the existing ~cal and senior governments) could be amalgamated e.g. Transportation, Planning.

Recommendation:

That the Planning and Development Committee recommend to the SCRD Board that:

a) this report be received and utilised as one input in the Final Report as per the terms of reference for funding from the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services, and

b) this report be distributed to the workshop participants, local governments relevant senior government staff.

COMMUNITY FOCUS GROUP SESSIONS

QUESTIONNAIRE -18 RECEIVED

1.Do you agree or disagree that some issues related to the growth and development on the Sunshine Coast by their scale and complexity transcend the boundaries of community plans and are regional in nature, and require methods in addition to community plans to deal with these issues?

17-Agree

Agree as long as the community plans continue to exist and Can only be changed by that community.

1 - Disagree

0 - Do not know

2. If your answer to Question No.1 is "Agree", what methods do you think should be used to address these issues?

0 Separate strategies for identified major issues only - for example:

- Development of separate strategies for transportation, economic development, parks, water supply, etc;

- development of strategies to deal with those geographic areas of the Sunshine Coast where growth related issues are identified as more of a concern

11 An overall regional strategy to co-ordinate growth and development with services, and to address major issues (environment, economic, etc) in an integrated manner.

7 Other - please explain.

· Respective current OCPs.

· The development of a new governance structure.

· Joint strategies for overlapping jurisdictions, i.e. Transport, water, health services, air etc.

· Individual identities needs to be maintained.

· Overall regional strategies must be conducted within existing framework of representation to prevent top down imposing of strategies on smaller regions. Unless a different method of prepresentation that is more inclusive of all stakeholders and residents can replace the existing one.

· Both of the above define issues and allow overall strategies with local variations as appropriate, Co ordinate regionally.

· Local issues should be recognized and dealt with within an overall regional strategy.

· 1 or 2 (or some other possibilities) depending on the specific issue.

· Use ecosystem based planning as a framework for mapping and identifying land use areas.

· Separate strategies may be inadequate for some areas. There needs to be certain amount of overall strategy but there also needs to be allowance for the maintenance of character for local communities.

Page 2

· This should be done in conjunction with the Area, Town and District governments, input from local community groups, not imposed from above.

· Combination of both. Separate strategies for specific issues as in (1.) to be co-ordinated with overall strategy.

· Overall strategies are important but not if it necessitates the loss of quality of lifestyle in specific areas, e.g. what good for Gibsons might not be good for Egmont etc.

ODo Not Know

3. Other Comments, Concerns, or issues you wish to identify.

· Water is a key issue - our growth development and quality of life are absolutely impacted.

· Time for more input on our marine environment, i.e. pollutants, protected preserves, industrial or aquacultural use etc.

· Environmental footprint/impact of people combined is more important in strategy development than simple population headcount.

· Clean air, water, environment. Promote sustainable development, self-sufficiency.

· With implementation of a regional strategy it is essential to reduce the levels of government to make governance a cheaper and more viable tax burden.

· It would be helpful to streamline some infrastructure areas on the coast, i.e. a Parks Board, one Planning Department for the whole coast, one Building Department, one Transportation Dept. etc.

· The Sunshine Coast is ideally placed to position itself as the sustainable development model of enlightened planning, alternative local economics, living within our ecological means etc. The leaders and communities must take the necessary steps to see that this happens. Integrated planning is a must but not at the expense of community independence.

· We have to be careful not to fragment issues, but to build a comprehensive plan within the confines of our SCRD responsibility. Resolution of issues re governance of watershed is issues will be very difficult. internal protection plans for groundwater protection may be developed by SCRD etc.

· The problems faced by many communities on the Coast are I believe the same a; global problems, so I feel they can be addressed at community plan meetings, given enough meeting,

· No impact growth to our ecosystem.

· The need for local autonomy rather than improved registration from federal/provincial groups.

· I would like to have a copy of the results.

· Water, sewage & sustainable development - major issues.