Case study: City of Corner Brook Integrated Municipal Sustainability Plan
LAND USE
The City of Corner Brook developed a 10-year integrated municipal sustainability plan (IMSP) that serves as a hybrid document, combining the goals and objectives of an integrated community sustainability plan with the legislative authority of a municipal plan. It includes a vision, goals and objectives for long-term development, addressing the five pillars of sustainability: environmental, economic, social, cultural and governance. It includes specific policies, regulations and implementation targets for the physical design and development of the city and identifies opportunities for partnership and collaboration. In force under the province's Urban and Rural Planning Act, the IMSP replaces Corner Brook's 1994-2004 Municipal Plan. The full plan is expressed in two documents: the Integrated Municipal Sustainability Plan and the Development Regulations.
To develop the plan, the city completed an extensive community consultation process, including public meetings and communication with stakeholder groups. Provincial government departments were also consulted. Municipal staff worked closely on the regulatory aspects of the plan to ensure that it would align with regional and provincial policy instruments.
Results
| Environmental | Economic | Social |
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Challenges
- The process of working remotely with consulting firms located in other provinces was a challenge. Modern communication technologies cannot replace the added value of being located in the same community and the efficiency of holding face-to-face meetings to resolve issues quickly.
- The time required to complete the plan was longer than anticipated because of the complexity of prepare a hybrid document that combines sustainability goals with regulatory policies that must align with provincial legal frameworks.
Lessons learned
- Identify the appropriate type of plan for the community (anything from a simple statement of visions and objectives to a detailed, legally binding implementation document) by considering how the plan will be used and assessing the resources available for its preparation.
- Collaborate closely with the consultant preparing the plan, to ensure that every detail fits the local community.
- Allow adequate time for municipal staff to complete multiple revisions of development regulations so that the regulations are fully aligned with related policies.
Resources
Partners and collaborators
- The city consulted several provincial government departments (including the Department of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs), municipal staff, residents and numerous community representatives of service groups, seniors, youth, environmental groups, economic boards and community development associations.
Project contact
Colleen Humphries
Supervisor of Planning
City of Corner Brook, NL
T. 709-637-1553
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