Regional Sustainability

Regional Growth Strategy Five Year Review

Transitioning to the Regional Sustainability Strategy (RSS)

The regional growth strategy (RGS) is a strategic planning document coordinated through the regional district that addresses issues which are regional in nature such as transportation, population growth and settlement patterns. The RGS promotes the long term livability of the region and seeks to optimize social, economic and environmental performance.

The growth strategy is initiated, managed and ultimately adopted by the regional district. It is also implemented by the regional district in partnership with its member municipalities. The provincial government, another partner in the process, provides the provincial perspective through the intergovernmental advisory committee (IAC) on regional issues during the strategy development and review.

The CRD RGS was adopted in 2003. It is now being updated as part of the 5-year review process and will be revised as the region's sustainability strategy. Information, opportunities for input and involvement in the process will be identified on this site.

Summer 2010 Update

Policy Briefs

This summer a number of policy papers will be written covering the topics of housing, resource management, climate change, regional greenspaces, sustainable transportation, sustainable development patterns, economic sustainability, social well being and food security, each including among other things a range of policy scenarios which will be released this Fall for public feedback.

Regional Sustainability Strategy Open Houses

The Capital Regional District invites your input into the Regional Growth Strategy update: The Regional Sustainability Strategy (RSS): Moving Towards a Sustainable Future. The feedback you provide at these sessions will be incorporated into the future plan for the region.

The Regional Sustainability Strategy addresses issues of region-wide concern – issues that involve more than one municipality acting on its own. Join us at one of the following meetings to learn what the CRD is doing to meet these challenges, see live demonstrations of the CRD’s online modeling and indicator tools and share your insights!

Each session will include an open house with regional planning staff on hand, followed by a short presentation beginning at 7:00 pm.

Please see the events section for the dates and times.

MetroQuest Online

Thank you to all those who attended our open house and forum. If you did not have a chance to submit your simulated version of an ideal future region please visit MetroQuest's online version.

For continued updates on the RGS Update process submit your contact details on the information registration page.

RGS Update Public Forum

The public forum on February 4th received a tremendous amount of feedback from the public. See what you have to say about the RGS. Read more

The RGS Review Process

The RGS five year review Preliminary Phase is underway. The majority of the background reporting and technical analysis will be completed during this time.

The following projects will be completed in the Preliminary Phase:

MetroQuest's scenario building tools will facilitate an upcoming dialogue on key regional issues through workshops and an interactive website.
Population, Employment & Dwelling projections (PDF ) (and appendices (PDF )) to 2038 have been completed by Urban Futures (completed)
Visible Strategies technology will be used to make the RGS indicators from the State of the Region report more user friendly (under way)
Land Use Capacity Model (under way)
Industrial Land Study (Inventory and Demand analysis) (complete) (PDF )
Archaeological Overview Assessment (in final stages of completion)

Background Information

2003 Regional Growth Strategy

The CRD Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) was adopted by the CRD Board on August 13, 2003. The strategy represents an agreement, developed and approved by the member municipalities in partnership with the regional district and outlines the region's social, economic, and environmental goals and priority actions.

RGS-RSS Overview Presentation

Regional Growth Strategy Bylaw

Regional Growth Strategy Bylaw (PDF )

The RGS includes eight strategic initiatives:

Keep urban settlement compact
Protect the integrity of rural communities
Protect regional green and blue space
Manage natural resources and the environment sustainability
Build complete communities
Improve housing affordability
Increase transportation choice
Strengthen the regional economy

In addition to the strategic initiatives, the RGS contains several maps and land use designations. They include:

RGS Map 1: Regional Growth Strategy Area (PDF )
RGS Map 2: Georgia Basin / Puget Sound (PDF )
RGS Map 3: Growth Management Concept Plan (PDF )
RGS Map 4: Regional Green-Blue Spaces System (PDF )

RGS Amendment Process

The regional growth strategy was subject to an amendment process in 2008. Map 3 in the RGS was amended to alter the regional urban containment and servicing policy area (RUCSPA) boundary to accommodate the Bear Mountain development in the District of Highlands.

RGS Implementation

The RGS is primarily implemented through the municipal Official Community Plans and zoning bylaws. The Local Government Act (LGA) section 866 requires municipalities to prepare a regional context statement (RCS) within two years of the adoption of a regional growth strategy. The purpose of the regional context statements is to outline how the municipality's Official Community Plan is consistent with the RGS or how it may be made consistent over time. The intent is to develop a level of consistency between municipalities and the RGS to achieve common visions and shared goals.

Regional Context Statements

Sub-Strategies

Three important sub-strategies support the initiatives of the Regional Growth Strategy:

TravelChoices Transportation Strategy - Adopted April 13, 2005
Regional Housing Affordability Strategy - Adopted March 13, 2007
Economic Development Strategy

Regional Planning