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City plan can't be based on status quo |
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Written by Klaus Jericho
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Saturday, 27 June 2009 |
The city is in the process of creating a Municipal Development Plan and within it the Sustainability Plan to serve us for the next 15 years. The outcome of these plans cannot be “business as usual.”
The best information tells us that the human population will peak at 9-10 billion in the next 30-40 years and energy demands will rise accordingly. We will have to use less energy and what we use will have to be cleaner. All life needs energy but it must be clean.
We are facing challenges which we have not experienced before. Humans are blessed with foresight and we will need to apply it promptly in the creation of the new Municipal Development Plan. “Business as usual” will not do.
So how does that apply to city planning? It is important we collectively produce the above two plans with energy considerations in mind.
For example, population density and its location within the city perimeter will impact how soon a third bridge will be needed. If we plan correctly, then the corridor to be set aside for the third bridge may never be needed. Building a bridge for vehicles has major consequences for energy use, city sprawl and sustainable living. These are important considerations for all those involved in the public process of creating the Municipal Development Plan.
Alternatively, in order to reduce present energy use, it maybe helpful to think about a covered foot/bicyle/handicap bridge which has no parking at either end but is reached by public transport.
“Business as usual” will not do.
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