Official Community Plan - 9.2 OBJECTIVES and 9.3 POLICIES (Infrastructure)
Objectives and policies for sustainable infrastructure, fiscal responsibility, and waste management.
9.2 OBJECTIVES
9.2.1 SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE
Ensure that infrastructure investment and renewal decisions are guided by the Town’s Asset Management Policy No. 1600-025 and long-term financial plan. To maximize best value and service delivery of the Town's critical assets, align asset management programs, policies, and plan with the requisite funding and resources.
9.2.2 FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND DECISION MAKING
Ensure that infrastructure and service delivery are planned, funded and implemented in a fiscally responsible manner through evidence-based decision making, long-term financial planning, and sustainable funding strategies that balance service outcomes, risks, affordability and the interests of current and future generations.
9.2.3 SERVICE DELIVERY
Continue to provide a sustainable level of service for critical infrastructure systems to align with community expectations.
9.2.4 INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT, GROWTH, AND COORDINATION
Continue to coordinate infrastructure investments, including maintenance, upgrades, renewals, and improvements to ensure sustainable service delivery, and consider alignment with existing and future land use and growth considerations.
9.2.5 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Consider the preservation of the natural environment’s integrity and the protection of human health in infrastructure and service delivery when making decisions. Growth should be balanced with the capacity of natural systems.
9.2.6 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS
Consider ongoing studies and review of climate projections in the design, upgrade, operations, and maintenance of new and existing infrastructure to make informed decisions on the optimal method of service delivery.
9.3 POLICIES
9.3.1 GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
A. Plan new and upgraded infrastructure and services to support compact and sustainable development, and prioritize investments that support existing and new housing, employment, and civic uses.
B. Ensure infrastructure systems (water, wastewater, and sewer) with adequate capacity are in place or provided as part of a development. Infrastructure upgrades should be planned for and installed through municipal finance initiatives.
Following a legal review, Objective 9.2.2 was revised by replacing reference to reserves with long-term financial planning in case infrastructure and service delivery is funded in a different manner by the Town to avoid any unintended consequences of mandatory language.
C. Ensure that extension of infrastructure services in areas outside the Urban Containment Boundary or for developments that do not conform with the policies of this plan will not be supported.
D. Plan new infrastructure in conjunction with roads, community facilities, parks, and other public spaces. Planning considerations should include: i) Stormwater management ii) Watershed systems and functions iii) Inflow and infiltration reduction iv) Opportunities to integrate parks, greenways, natural systems, and tree canopy improvements v) Transportation safety, pedestrian, cyclist, and transit connections.
E. Exercise the Town’s legislative authority to obtain road dedications for sustainable transportation infrastructure as a condition of a building permit.
9.3.2 INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
A. Use the Town’s master plans and Asset Management Plans as guides to identify future infrastructure priorities and upgrades, and understand required reserve contributions for long term service demand and delivery.
B. Prioritize infrastructure and services investments that best address local needs and maximize community benefits.
C. Ensure that the cost of infrastructure investments is equitably borne by those that benefit from the provision of the service; with the cost of new or upgraded systems being funded by the developments that trigger them or benefitting property owners.
9.3.3 INFRASTRUCTURE STANDARDS
A. Ensure infrastructure is designed in a manner that aligns with the community’s goals and desired levels of service, as well as adheres to the Town’s engineering specifications including the latest Master Municipal Construction Documents so that all infrastructure in View Royal is being constructed to a standard that aligns with best engineering practices.
B. Aim to advance green infrastructure (e.g. natural assets, enhanced assets, and engineered assets) practices.
C. Consider the full life cycle of infrastructure services, including operations, maintenance and service levels, when designing new systems and upgrades.
D. Facilitate adequate operation and maintenance programs to maximize the life of infrastructure systems, reduce the frequency of replacement, ensure proper functionality, and reduce the risk of critical failures.
E. Continue to explore strategies and solutions to understand and reduce the inflow and infiltration of stormwater into the sanitary sewer system.
Green infrastructure refers to natural and semi-natural engineered systems that support with managing drainage. Examples include green roofs, permeable pavements, and rain gardens, amongst others.
9.3.4 INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
A. When considering infrastructure renewal priorities, considerations will be given to upgrades to infrastructure and services that will enhance resiliency to the risks and impacts of climate change and disasters.
B. Continue to incorporate climate change factors into the Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw to ensure that both onsite and offsite infrastructure considers the effects of climate change.
C. Continue to explore opportunities to establish a natural asset inventory while supporting the protection, maintenance, and enhancement of existing natural assets and amenities.
D. Work with adjacent jurisdictions in the Capital Regional District and other organizations to advance efforts in watershed management and drinking water protection that align with the Drinking Water Protection Act and Regulation.
E. Support stormwater management practices that emphasize infiltration and detention, where possible, to minimize the negative effects (e.g. erosion, sediments, and contaminants) of stormwater discharge into Portage Inlet, Gorge Waterway, Esquimalt Harbour, Craigflower Creek, Hospital Creek, Millstream Creek and other natural watercourses and water bodies.
F. Consider stricter source control measures and potential upgrades to reduce runoff from private property to mitigate downstream drainage impacts.
G. Continue to prioritize sewer infrastructure upgrades and inflow and infiltration reduction to reduce overall sewer flows in the system, mitigating the risk of liquid waste overflowing into the natural environment.
H. Investigate opportunities to mitigate downstream drainage impacts, in alignment with regional and provincial standards, and the level of service expected of the public. Opportunities could include rainwater collection, greywater reuse (such as using treated water for irrigation), and dual piping systems.
9.3.5 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
A. Continue to work with the Capital Regional District and the private sector to maintain three-stream waste separation systems (garbage, recycling, composting) as a means of reducing the amount of solid waste sent to the landfill. Ensure that all collection programs are convenient and well-promoted to increase participation at the unit level, building level, in businesses and public institutions.
B. Support small-scale composting on appropriate residential properties and in community gardens.
C. Support regional initiatives to reduce construction waste and encourage sustainable waste reduction.
D. Consider opportunities to collaborate with the Capital Regional District and waste collection service providers to improve waste and organics collection for multi-unit residential developments with more than four dwelling units.