Sustainability initiatives at the community level have been a part of the City’s core values, policies, and programs for many years. Outlined below are some of the projects, values, and goals guiding community planning and land use management decisions.
Terrace 2050 Sustainability Strategy
A community sustainability planning process was initiated in 2009 to help define a shared community vision and long-range planning foundation and strategies for maintaining a healthy and vibrant city. The following is a timeline that led to the creation of our “Terrace 2050: Sustainability Strategy”:
The Sustainability Committee members were appointed in May 2009
Over the course of 2009 the Sustainability Task Force initiated the Terrace 2050 Sustainability Strategy process which was guided by community input and discussions with a range of interest groups.
“Terrace 2050 – A Strategy for Sustainability” was completed in late 2009, included the following four sections:
Section 1: Introduction – includes relevant background, purpose and how the strategy was developed
Section 2: Sustainability Vision – includes goals and strategic directions
Section 3: Implementation – discusses the strategy in context of the Official Community Plan (OCP) review and other city projects
Section 4: Action Plan – specific timelines, targets and stewards are attached to the defined strategies.
Following the completion of “Terrace 2050 – A Strategy for Sustainability” the foundation was in place for members of the Sustainability Task Force to divide into working groups to examine specific priority areas.
The input from working groups combined with the Terrace 2050 Strategy became the foundation of our 2010-2011 Official Community Plan revision.
Official Community Plan (OCP)
The City of Terrace’s approaches to addressing climate change at the community level are found throughout the OCP’s Community Goals section which include the following objective
Promote land use choices that support community food security goals
Increase overall percentage of food grown and consumed locally
Promote and support community based agricultural activities
Prepare for effects of climate change on agriculture
Promote livability by encouraging mixed land use including neighbourhood commercial developments, residential density and housing location
Promote energy efficiency in existing housing stock
Provide housing which meets the needs of all residents.
Encourage diversity of dwelling units in all neighbourhoods
Strive to achieve accessibility to accommodate residents with special needs in all new housing
Partner with regional communities governements and related agencies to actively address housing challenges
Strive for neighbourhoods across the city to be linked for safe walking, cycling and efficient public transit opportunities for residents.
Support for local economic viability and vitality
Support local and regonal tourism initiatives
Develop a highly coordinated and diversified regional economy
Maintain and enhance transportation infrastructure that connects industry and businesses to diverse markets and customers
Develop and maintain a recognizable and landing brand for Terrace
Attract new business and investment
Maintain a blend of commercial and industrial lands along the Highway 16 and Keith Avenue corridor
Prepare and plan for large scale industrial projects contributing to local and regional growth
Continue to renew and redevelop brownfield sites
Continue to develop the Skeena Industrial Development Park
Develop a thriving downtown
Promote sustainability through mixed use in downtown. Consider neighbourhood commercial developments, residential density, and housing location.
Provide appropriate and accessible parking in the downtown
Acquire additional parkland and open space lands
Maintain a high level of design and maintenance for new and existing parklands
Improve community access to outdoor activities
Maintain and promote natural park areas and greenways
Sustain and protect our urban forests and treed areas
Design with nature in environmentally sensitive areas
Protect our viewscapes
Live responsibly with wildlife
Maintain and protect air quality
Define Terrace’s cultural identity
Identify, protect, and enhance the community’s heritage resources
Provide welcoming and attractive facilities and public spaces for cultural and arts events
A safe and secure built environment for all members of the community
Support social and leisure opportunities that are affordable and accessible for all
Support independence, self-reliance and full community participation for persons with all abilities
Continue to support the growth and sustainability of cultural facilities and programming in our community
Support active citizens and provide ongoing opportunity for engagement.
Take a long-term, holistic approach to all infrastructure upgrades. Consider lifecycle costs, sustainability and regional impacts and benefits.
Design roads, and develop and redevelop related infrastructure, to meet our current needs while considering future growth
Improve safety of our transportation network for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians
Support accessibility and mobility in the downtown core
Increase transit ridership
Increase access to, and level of, active transportation for residents
Protect and conserve the City’s water supply
Provide safe and cost-effective treated water
Operate and maintain our wastewater treatment system responsibly
Maintain and enhance the stormwater management system
Prepare and adapt to effects of climate change on infrastructure
Work towards achieving community energy self-sufficiency
Act as leaders in waste reduction
Endorse regional education on waste reduction initiatives
Reduce waste
GHG Emissions Targets
The Local Government Act requires all OCPs contain targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, along with policies and actions of the local government with respect towards achieving those targets.
The City of Terrace has set the following GHGs reduction targets to establish ambitions yet realistic goals for our community. Targets set in 2011, remain unchanged in the latest OCP update completed in 2018.
