Rural Revitalization through
Sustainable Community Design

Rural Revitalization through Sustainable Community Design Project, funded through the New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund, endeavoured to develop a landscape level understanding of the opportunities for connectivity for over 450 acres of organizational, private lands and potentially 500 ha of proposed nature preserve. Approximately 60 acres of this land is proposed for clustered residential development that preserves at least 50% of the buildable area for
ecological restoration, organic agriculture & recreation.

How can new neighbourhood developments preserve the natural assets of a site and integrate connectivity between homes, food production, employment and recreation without the reliance on fossil fueled transportation?
The extent that New Brunswickers become aware of practical ways to conserve their local landscapes (including fields, woodlands, meadows, hedgerows, riverbanks, and ponds) will depend upon progressive future-minded local policies and ordinances.

Two sites are proposed for the future development. The proponents of the first site are Tegan & Leland Wong-Daugherty who have purchased 49 acres in Knowlesville and are in the process of incorporating the South Knowlesville Community Land Trust as a non-profit entity that will eventually own the land in perpetuity. The second site is on Knowlesville Road and includes 18 acres of Falls Brook Centre land and a portion of land belonging to Jean Arnold. The Falls Brook Centre site was purchased for a potential future site for the community-based environmental organization and may include residential clusters as well.

Following the Sustainable Community Design approach currently being championed by Daniel Savard, a senior planner within the NB Department of Environment, the two sites have undergone preliminary site analysis and development constraint maps developed. Sustainable Community Design is a planning tool for managing development growth and protecting natural areas as a viable alternative to conventional suburban sprawl.

What is Sustainable Community Design
Under sustainable community design, half or more of the buildable area is designated as undivided, permanent open space. The main steps of the conservation design process are as follows:

• Locate primary conservation areas based on environmental constraints (ie. steep slopes,
  watercourses, floodplains)
  
• Identify secondary conservation areas that should be protected. These areas are typically
  not protected by regulation but are nonetheless significant. They could include historical
  or cultural sites, environmentally significant areas and scenic views.
  
• Delineate where development will occur based on the determination of primary and
  secondary conservation areas.
  
• Connect streets and determine lot lines only after selecting the best location for
  residences on the remaining land.

Red, Yellow and Green Conservation Zones

Inventorying site and context offers the opportunity to discuss land-use opportunities for better project planning. Integrating the information from various maps, surveys, inventories and community dialog the Falls Brook Centre team put together a series of conservation maps for each site.

• The red zones represent environmental constraints such as buffer zones around streams and wetlands as well as any area that is not buildable due to steep slope or poor drainage.
  
• The yellow zones represent a wider set of sites that are identified for conservation based on other values such as cultural use, historical significance, views, trails, corridors, etc. These combine to form secondary conservation areas that will not be used directly for housing but may provide garden space, trails, recreation zones and open lands.
• Finally the green areas represent potential residential development zones.

Site # 1: South Knowlesville Community Land Trust

• Red, Yellow and Green Conservation Zones Determined based on Site data

• Land Use Concept Developed based on Conservation Zones and overall vision for the neighbourhood

Site # 2: Falls Brook Centre New Site & Neighbourhood

• Red, Yellow and Green Conservation Zones Determined based on Site data

• Land Use Concept Developed based on Conservation Zones and overall vision for the neighbourhood

Want to Learn more? Find out about how Community Land Trusts may be a way that rural communities and organizations can make a conscious effort towards rural revitalization...