The Town of Comox recently changed its municipal boundaries and has been experiencing a changing demographic profile. A sought-after retirement area, the percentage of seniors has been increasing while school enrolment has declined. Changing service, recreation, commercial and housing needs require the Town to plan in new directions. Concurrently, the Town has become a signatory to the BC Climate Charter and is therefore committed to addressing its green house gas emissions and energy use. SSG has addressed these considerations through strategic recommendations through the OCP review.

• Providing sustainability background analysis and sustainability planning rationale.

• Eliciting community input for sustainability goals, principles and community vision.

• Developing sustainability indicators.

• Initiating strategies to meet Bill 27 Climate Charter requirements.

• Performing land use GHG modeling.

SSG is determining key strategies and actions that the Town can implement to meet its Climate Charter objectives. By removing legislative, regulatory and policy barriers, and implementing programs, policies, infrastructure and incentives Comox will be able to encourage economic, social and environmentally responsible development and lifestyles.

 

Since Comox is situated in a region where the bulk of retail concentration is in a neighbouring municipality, community economic development and appropriate economic development sustainability indicator selection is crucial to the long term resilience and wealth of the community. Age-specific planning policies will guide the community through an ageing demographic shift while encouraging youth engagement and attraction of young families.

 

By integrating extensive community consultation with sustainability expertise and best practices from other municipalities, SSG will help the Town of Comox realize its short and long term goals through a triple bottom line approach to sustainability. This will allow the Town to maintain its small town feel while fostering a sustainable, resilient future.