District of Summerland wins award for environmental excellence

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities “Sustainable Communities Awards for the residential development category” was presented to Summerland Mayor Janice Perrino in Ottawa. The award was for new zoning bylaws that focus on denser communities, preserve agricultural land and direct development to land already serviced with municipal sewer and water. A new Community Climate Action Plan aims to minimize urban sprawl and promote compact, energy-efficient development with access to amenities within walking and cycling distance. These efforts aim to lower GHG emissions and land degradation related to urban sprawl, save money with less new infrastructure, and make public transit a more viable option. The bylaw passed with broad support—a clear indicator of a successful public process. The FCM Awards have prepared a video that can be viewed at this link.