NEW GUIDE: Development Permit Areas for Climate Action in British Columbia

Achieve Broader Rainwater Management Goals 

In 2008, the Province of BC amended the Local Government Act to include three Development Permit Area (DPA) purposes for climate action. This amendment established objectives to promote energy conservation, water conservation, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction.

To support the legislative changes, the Province has developed a guidance document: Development Permit Areas for Climate Action: A Guide for Energy Conservation, Water Conservation and GHG Emissions Reduction.The Guide:

• describes the legislative authority for DPAs for climate action;
• identifies considerations for local governments that are undertaking a DPA for climate action; 
• presents examples of DPA strategies for energy conservation, water conservation and GHG reduction; and,
• highlights local government examples of DPAs for climate action and related initiatives.    

The Guide was developed by Ministry staff and reviewed by key stakeholders, including: local government planning staff; landscape architects; the Urban Development Institute; the Canadian Homebuilders Association; BC Hydro and other relevant government agencies.

Make Strategic Choices: The Guide was created to help local governments make strategic choices about how to effectively use DPAs for climate action and to help achieve their GHG emission reduction targets. The Guide references both Stormwater Planning: A Guidebook for BC; and the Water Balance Model for BC.

“The Water Balance Model is one tool that can assist in designing developments that minimize change to natural hydrologic conditions. The tool helps makes decisions about how best to manage rainwater runoff,” states the Guide.

“Combining an environmental protection DPA with a climate action DPA can achieve broader rainwater management goals. A water conservation DPA might include strategies that reduce the demand for potable water (for example, low water use landscaping), and support on-site rainwater infiltration and rainwater capture for re-use,” adds the Guide in providing an example of proposed application.

TO LEARN MORE: To download a copy of the Guide, click here. And to read a story posted previously about the Water Balance Model, click on British Columbia Partnership announces that rebuilt “Water Balance Model” is now LIVE!

E-Blast #2012-12

March 27, 2012