New development standards will create more sustainable communities

 Tonight, Whitby’s Town Council unanimously approved the Whitby Green Standard. This is another step toward creating more sustainable communities and supports Council’s 2019 declaration of a climate change emergency.

The Whitby Green Standard requires developers to consider sustainability when planning and developing new areas of the community. It encourages designated green space, trees, parks, trails and community gathering spaces. This will create more sustainable communities to meet the needs of Whitby’s growing population without compromising the environment for future generations.

The standard includes a 20-year roadmap and a four-tiered system of standards. Tier one identifies criteria that needs to be met by all new development applications and is effective immediately.

QUOTES

 “Whitby’s population is expected to grow by more than 40 per cent over the next twelve years. We must lead by example and do all that we can locally to ensure sustainable development practices that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help address the accelerating threat of global warming,” said Mayor Don Mitchell. “Thank you to all residents and stakeholders who provided feedback on the development of our green standards.”

QUICK FACTS 

• The Town’s goal is to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions by 80 per cent by the year 2050.
• The standard aligns with the Town’s Corporate Sustainability Plan and follows the One Living Planet approach.
• Tiers two to four of the standards identify voluntary ways in which developers can achieve high-performance sustainable development.
• For more information on the Whitby Green Standard, including the guideline checklist for developers, visit whitby.ca/greenstandards