Print
Task 16: Develop Master Concept and Course of Action
Update work plan and timeline
The charrette will identify the targeted research, rezoning and development work that will have to be completed in order to produce the SuNliving Implementation Manual. The work plan and timeline are updated and adjusted by the project manager to reflect changes and additions required to develop the master concept plan and course of action.
Update stakeholder analysis and engagement strategy
The sustainability coordinator revisits the stakeholder analysis to identify additional stakeholders that should be engaged. Issues that have surfaced, such as the need for rezoning, may require that additional stakeholders be involved in the engagement strategy.
Conduct targeted research
Typically, the charrette identifies additional technical or feasibility research required to address specific questions that could not be fully resolved during the charrette. The master concept plan and course of action cannot be finalized until this research is completed. The charrette manager factors this into the schedule and adjusts the timeline accordingly.
Generate digitized charrette scenario
The computer modeling tools used to generate alternative scenarios in Task 8 are now used to create a digitized model of the preferred plan that emerged from the charrette. This makes it possible to visualize, to measure and to assess the concept plan performance.
 |
Modeling Tools |
Digitized Charrette Scenario |
Select and sequence strategies and actions
The foundation research bulletins prepare in Task 12 for each of the sustainable neighbourhood themes provide a broad list of potential strategies and actions but do not indicate which ones are the most suitable. The preferred plan synthesis completed in Task 15 narrows down the potential list of suitable options. These remaining options are selected and sequenced according to their level of influence within the overall system (see Table 3). This process results in sustainable neighbourhood pathways that are more holistic and effective, with less conflicts and redundancy.
During this process, the charrette team integrates emerging strategies into system solutions that take advantage of synergies to improve performance, reduce long-term costs and address issues that extend across different or multiple themes. As options are selected and sequenced, it is important to remember that technology alone cannot achieve sustainable neighbourhoods — solutions must also enable and foster sustainable living.
Outline sustainable living program
Compile the potential strategies, initiatives and activities for fostering sustainable living that have been identified to date. These options represent an initial framework and point of departure for creating a program to foster sustainable living. They are the component of the SuNliving Implementation Manual that is intended to serve as the sustainable living lens to be applied to decision-making throughout detailed design and implementation.
 |
Informing Tools | Sustainable Living Program Outline |
 |
EHUV Case Study | Fostering Sustainable Living – SuN Guidelines Theme Modules, last page of each theme module |
| TABLE 3 | SELECTING AND SEQUENCING STRATEGIES (1) |
| STEP 1: Inclusive Urban Form |
Objective: To create a compact, inclusive, and liveable urban form that makes sustainable living easy, attractive and affordable by creating opportunities for residents to live ‘green’ without sacrificing a modern, urban and mobile lifestyle. |
| STEP 2: Integrated Natural Habitat |
Objective: To enhance liveability by integrating natural spaces and greener/smarter/cheaper infrastructure, and utilizing them in additional ways that amplify urban system performance and maximize effective and efficient resource use. |
| STEP 3: Aggressive Demand Reduction |
Objective: To enhance demand reduction achieved through urban form strategies by further reducing or eliminating resource supply requirements thereby presenting more opportunities to effectively use resources and embrace a renewable resource base. |
| STEP 4: Effective Resource Use |
Objective: To match the quality of the supply resource with the quality of need and develop an urban ecology that integrates and cascades resource use such that the output ‘waste’ from one use becomes the input ‘food’ for the next. |
| STEP 5: Efficient Resource Use |
Objective: Coordination among all players in the supply chain to ensure products are designed, packaged, transported, and assembled in a manner that optimizes cradle to cradle, or closed loop, resource use. |
| STEP 6: Renewable Resources |
Objective: For renewable resources to become the foundation for energy, water and material pathways and for the neighbourhood to become a net producer of resources. Having given full consideration to Steps 1-5, the ability to switch to a more renewable resource base now becomes more feasible. |
(1) Adapted from the citiesPLUS One System Approach - www.citiesplus.ca/cdsubmission/content_main/c_plus_full.htm
Evaluate performance and feasibility
The charrette team assesses the concept plan, allowing participants to make adjustments that will optimize master concept plan performance. Performance and feasibility are evaluated against:
Targets: The digitized charrette plan model provides metrics to assess performance against each indicator target determined in Task 11; feasibility is evaluated by determining if targets are achievable, beatable or, perhaps, overly ambitious; and a preferred timeline for achieving each target is determined.
Pro Forma: Life cycle costing and full cost accounting techniques assist in the selection of design and technology options that will maximize the business case and market potential.
Sustainable living: Community-based social marketing techniques assist in determining if options designed to enable sustainable living will also foster the desired behaviours.
|
Modeling Tools | Computerized Performance Assessment |
|
Informing Tools | Performance Assessment Report |
|
EHUV Case Study |
Performance Assessment – SuN Guidelines Appendix Two Goals & Targets Summary and Performance Assessment Spreadsheet |
Assess compliance with sustainable neighbourhood principles
It is relatively easy to assess whether a particular initiative identified in a sustainable neighbourhood course of action aligns with one or more of the social, economic, and environmental parameters typically associated with sustainable neighbourhood development. It is more difficult, however, to determine whether or not a specific action is moving towards achieving a one planet footprint and genuine wealth.
Sustainable neighbourhood principles generated in Task 2 provide a set of guiding rules that can be used as a basis for design. They enable the creation of optimal strategies for moving our current situation along a path towards achieving one planet living. SuNliving has established criteria for scrutinizing strategies by adapting process elements from the TNS Framework and Fostering Sustainable Behaviour. This assessment assists in determining if an option is moving towards a sustainable outcome and whether it will foster sustainable living. An affirmative response to the questions in Table 4 identifies options that will bridge today with a sustainable future and can be included in the course of action.
|
EHUV Case Study | CBSM Scoping Paper: The Human Factor |
| TABLE 4 | CRITERIA FOR ASSESSING THE COURSE OF ACTION |
|
1) Does this action move us towards becoming more sustainable? |
First assess the action with respect to the sustainable neighbourhood principles to determine if it achieves, or is moving towards, all principles and not one at the expense of another.
|
|
2) Does this action provide a stepping-stone for future improvement? |
An action that does not achieve or move towards the sustainable neighbourhood principles may still be appropriate if it provides a flexible platform for future steps and a mechanism for those steps to be taken.
|
|
3) Does this action provide an adequate return on investment? |
Assess the immediate financial effectiveness for reaching the desired goal of each action.
|
|
4) Will the residents engage in the action? |
Selecting behaviours forces program planners to carefully consider their options before delivering a program for fostering sustainable living.
|
Produce master concept plan and course of action
With all outstanding issues addressed and performance and feasibility verified, the charrette team is now in a position to produce a final draft of the master concept plan and the course of action, which includes an initial set of options for fostering sustainable living.
Confirm master concept plan and course of action
Key stakeholders are engaged to carry out a final review of the master concept plan and course of action. The documents will be finalized pending the outcome of any rezoning that is required. Once finalized, this information is incorporated into the SuNliving Implementation Manual.
|
Informing Tools | Master Concept Plan and Course of Action |
Rezone development site (if required)
If rezoning requires the amendment of municipal bylaws such as an Area Concept Plan, an Area Structure Plan and/or a Land Use Bylaw, the appropriate documentation for the amendment process can now be prepared. At this point, rezoning should just be a formality because the key stakeholders have been engaged throughout SuNliving and will now be on board. However, if anticipated rezoning is not received, the master concept and course of action will have to be adjusted accordingly.
|
EHUV Case Study |
