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Congratulations to Mayor Steve Clarke for forming the “Sustainable Orillia” task force!
A good start. Sorry I was unable to attend.
I recommend to the group one element of the Green Plan for overall carbon footprint reduction as proposed by Stephen Makk, the Simcoe North Electoral District PPC candidate.
Simply put, the plan would to locate plants and offices into developing urban Orillia, Midland, or Penetanguishene along with employee housing within a five-minute walk or two-minute bicycle ride. Eliminate the need for any motorized transportation to and from work (which would) dramatically reduce the carbon footprint.
Continue to use existing vehicles until economics and infrastructure development dictate conversion to ‘greener’ energy.
Industrial parks have typically clustered ‘drive-to-businesses’. Instead, integrate big employer enterprises into the city’s zoning and development plans; encourage enterprise employees to live within easy walking distance of work and daily shopping.
Zoning and development plans could integrate housing, shopping plazas, and large business operations, providing opportunity to substantially limit motorized transport to only the delivery of raw materials and finished products (i.e eliminate need to drive to and from work.)
Planning would be easy for software developers or head offices (insurance, financial institutions) Many kinds of manufacturing plants would be fully compatible with such integration.
Such a plan could be very attractive to the company/employer, to the employee, and to the general populace who want to contribute positively to reducing our Canadian carbon footprint, and to see real, positive, economical steps taken to reduce carbon emissions.
If municipal planners and higher levels of government will work together and support comprehensive community plans for business location (or relocation) with attractive economic and environmental results, one might expect positive action, and quickly.
Tax incentives and penalties may be used to encourage desired location/relocation with little ‘real cost’ to our economy and much satisfaction among employers, employees, and all levels of government.
Beverley M. Duncan
Orillia
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