The following summary of the Open Conversations held on April 25th was captured by the conversation leader. We want to continue the dialogue, so please use the form below to provide us with your big, blue sky ideas!
Session Convenor: Tim Vickers
Participants: Jane Timms, Kathleen Duguay, Brenda Murphy, Elise Sanderson, Sandra Gautreau, Patty Higgins.
Main Points from Discussion:
- Need more flexible options for applying environmental compensation.
- While total wetland area must not be reduced, the value of other functionality criteria such as active transportation routes, contaminated site remediation should be re-evaluated, especially in an urban setting.
- Option to bank environmental credits and sell back to developers as needed.
- This creates potential for communities to benefit from environmental improvements at an earlier point in an urban planning timeline, with the ‘risk’ assumed by the developer. That is, the compensation bank might never be fully depleted, but the community still benefits from the compensation regardless.
- Need for a registry of potential projects.
- Pre-plan potential compensation projects to increase the attractiveness of the region for developers AND increase opportunities for an interactive approach to regional planning.
- Regional cooperation and planning.
- Develop an environmental compensation plan that interconnects and enhances regional needs.
What Should Happen Next?
Development of a regional environmental compensation plan following a meeting with the Regional Mayor’s Caucus and NB Dept. Environment. Specifically, highlight an unprecedented opportunity for ACAP Saint John work with municipalities in the framing of a regional active transportation hub to be built [largely] amongst ecological corridors.