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The Town of Orangeville’s first Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan (SNAP) outlines a vision for the municipality as “a thriving, green, healthy, and connected community” and provides direction that will help guide future planning in the Town. Orangeville Council formally received the sustainability plan on June 24 and directed staff to consider implementation of the plan’s recommendations in future planning.

Along with a sustainability vision for the Town of Orangeville, priority goals, strategies and actions are outlined to guide the Town towards a sustainable future.

Seven key sustainability themes are identified in the plan: Climate Change and Energy, Corporate and Fiscal, Economic Development and Culture, Land Use and Planning, Natural Resources and Environment, Social Well-being, and Transportation System. For the Town to become a leader in sustainability and maximize quality of life for its residents, actions will be required in each of these theme areas. In addition to listing goals and strategies for fulfilment of each theme, the plan provides metrics, timelines, and benchmark data to help measure success.

“The plan takes a holistic approach to sustainability,” says Mayor Sandy Brown. “It focuses on protecting our natural resources and the environment and strengthening our corporate, economic and social programs while also planning for land use, transportation and climate change.”

Overall, the plan was shaped through considerable input from community leaders, organizations, businesses, and members of the public, with more than 580 people and 40 organizations providing input.

The Town was awarded a grant of up to $46,400 from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Green Municipal Fund in 2018 to support the completion of the SNAP. Completed by Lura Consulting, development of the SNAP consisted of three major phases – a background review, engagement, and development of the plan. The project was overseen by a steering committee comprised of Town staff representing Economic Development and Culture, Facilities and Parks, Environment, Transportation and Development, and Planning.

Initially, implementation of the plan will be led by a staff steering committee that will meet two to three times per year to establish annual priority actions, discuss budgeting requirements and monitor implementation of the plan. Sustainable Orangeville will take a lead role in advocacy efforts, promotion and implementation of the plan and the steering committee will work with the Sustainable Orangeville Chair to ensure that priority actions are aligned and complementary. Councillor Grant Peters, Chair of Sustainable Orangeville, is eager to begin. “The creation of a sustainability plan for our community has been a priority for Sustainable Orangeville for several years and its implementation will improve the quality of life of Orangeville residents, now and in the future.”