Description: The settlement concept is comprised of three components:
1. Node: Scale and intensity of development supports local-serving employment,
commercial and community services and serves as a destination for residents
proximate to the node. Surrounding areas feature residential uses of varying
densities.
2. Sub-Regional Node: Scale and intensity of development supports the area as a
sub-regional employment, commercial and community destination and serves as a
commuter destination from within the sub-region. Surrounding areas feature a mixof uses and higher density residential development.
3. Metropolitan Core: Scale and intensity of development supports the area as a
regional employment, business and cultural destination and serves as a significant commuter destination across modes from all parts of the region. Surrounding areas feature a dense mix of residential, employment and cultural uses.
Description: Urban Containment Boundary: Includes residential, general employment, commercial and industrial lands, as well as other associated land uses. The Urban Containment Policy Area is intended to accommodate 95% of the region’s new dwelling units. Within the Urban Containment Policy Area, planned growth and major new transportation infrastructure investments will be encouraged to align with the settlement concept shown on Map 3(b).Municipalities will determine the precise land use, intensification, density, servicing and connectivity requirements through local planning and regulatory processes.
The Regional Growth Strategy restricts extension of urban–standard sanitary sewerage services beyond the Urban Containment Policy Area Boundary as set out under policy 2.2(5). Within the Urban Containment Policy Area, employment and population growth is to be accommodated in complete communities, as per the criteria set out in Objective 3.1. Complete communities are intended to accommodate housing, jobs and services at densities that will support transit. Accommodating growth in complete communities is central to reducing community-based greenhouse gas emissions, reducing development pressure on rural and resource lands and keeping infrastructure affordable. Where Capital Green Lands and Renewable Resource Lands Policy Areas overlap with the Urban Containment Policy Area, the land use policy for the Capital Green Lands and Renewable Resource Lands Policy Areas shall take precedence. Liquid waste service may beprovided to such lands within the Urban Containment Policy Area provided it is for a purposeconsistent with the land use designations for the Capital Green Lands and Renewable Resource Lands Policy Areas.
Description: Capital Green Lands Policy Area: Are Ecological Reserves, Capital Regional District Waterlands, national parks and historic sites, provincial parks, regional parks, and lands used bymunicipalities and electoral areas as parks. Local governments retain legislative authorityrelated to parkland without requiring an amendment to the Regional Growth Strategy. The Regional Growth Strategy sets out in policy 2.1(1) the continued long–term use of theselands for these purposes.
Description: Renewable Resource Lands Policy Area: Includes lands within the Agricultural LandReserve (ALR), the Private Managed Forest Lands and Crown Forest Lands. The Regional Growth Strategy sets out in policy 5.1(4) the continued long–term use of these lands as renewable resource working landscapes.
Description: Urban Containment Policy Area: Includes residential, general employment, commercial and industrial lands, as well as other associated land uses. The Urban Containment Policy Area is intended to accommodate 95% of the region’s new dwelling units. Within the Urban Containment Policy Area, planned growth and major new transportation infrastructure investments will be encouraged to align with the settlement concept shown on Map 3(b).Municipalities will determine the precise land use, intensification, density, servicing and connectivity requirements through local planning and regulatory processes.
The Regional Growth Strategy restricts extension of urban–standard sanitary sewerage services beyond the Urban Containment Policy Area Boundary as set out under policy 2.2(5). Within the Urban Containment Policy Area, employment and population growth is to be accommodated in complete communities, as per the criteria set out in Objective 3.1. Complete communities are intended to accommodate housing, jobs and services at densities that will support transit. Accommodating growth in complete communities is central to reducing community-based greenhouse gas emissions, reducing development pressure on rural and resource lands and keeping infrastructure affordable. Where Capital Green Lands and Renewable Resource Lands Policy Areas overlap with the Urban Containment Policy Area, the land use policy for the Capital Green Lands and Renewable Resource Lands Policy Areas shall take precedence. Liquid waste service may beprovided to such lands within the Urban Containment Policy Area provided it is for a purposeconsistent with the land use designations for the Capital Green Lands and Renewable Resource Lands Policy Areas.
Description: Rural/Rural Residential Policy Area: Includes lands to be used for rural and rural residential purposes and the Victoria International Airport (with development potential as established through approved Memorandum of Understanding). The Regional Growth Strategy sets out in policy 1.1(1) and 1.2(1) that Rural/Rural Residential lands are not intended to become future urban areas requiring extensive services. Residential uses are of a form, density and character that support rural working landscapes. Commercial uses are local serving and such uses and other employment opportunities result in minimal impact to the surrounding community and to the environment. Low-impact tourism uses complement rural character. The policy area also includes lands with ecosystem benefits to be identified and protectedthrough means such as development permit areas, conservation covenants, or acquisition and designation as a park or ecological reserve.