Town of The Blue Mountains Sustainable Community Improvement Plan (CIP)

The Town of The Blue Mountains will develop a sustainable Community Improvement Plan (CIP) to guide future development in three main commercial areas of the downtown core. It will incorporate a planning study, urban design study and a Smart Growth plan, all targeted at improving and remediating brownfield sites, reducing urban sprawl and protecting the environment. Following a review of relevant policies and legislation, the project team will carry out a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis of the three areas, focusing on environmental, economic, transportation, urban design and land-use issues. Public visioning workshops and meetings will bring together the various community stakeholders. The team will prepare a planning study that will contain policies to guide intensification, infill, building re-use and redevelopment in the three downtown areas. An urban design study will follow, setting guidelines for streetscaping and building design. Finally, the team will create a Smart Growth plan containing guidelines and incentives for energy efficiency, heritage restoration and revitalization projects. Policies will ensure that redevelopment projects aim for LEED certification. The resulting capital projects will lead to a reduction in urban sprawl and its associated greenhouse gas emissions. Brownfield remediation will improve soil and groundwater contamination, reducing risks posed to humans and the environment.