Greater
Vancouver
Regional
istrict

Creating Our Future:
Steps To A More Livable Region

ABOUT iE FUTURE YOu
WANT FOR THIS REGION.

You WANT CLEANER AIR,

. GREEN SPACE AND
AFFORDABLE COMMUNITIES
WHERE YOU CAN LIVE,

| WORK AND PLAY,

- WoRiina TOGETHER, WE CAN
MAKE THiS FUTURE A REALITY
. ) m IN FACT THE QVRD is
"ALREADY PLANNING FOR IT -
BUT WE CAN'T DO IT
“WITHOUT You.

=e Eoeswrcti

It's no surprise to any of us that our
region is growing rapidly. We feel it in
our everyday lives as we spend more
time sitting in traffic, watch suburbs
spring up where there once was farm-
land, and when we can’t see the moun-
tains for the smog. At times the growth
seems out of control, but it doesn't have
to be. We can have the benefits of growth
and keep our region livable too. The pur-
pose of this newsletter is to show how.

The region is already showing signs
of rapid growth. Urban development is
starting to sprawl up the Fraser Valley,

. threatening valuable farmland. Forests,

fields and marshes are being paved over

. to build more roads and houses. Since

". most jobs are still in Vancouver
and its inner suburbs, many
of us are commuting long
distances to get to work.
This means even moré
cars on the road,
longer commuting
times, more air pollu-
_ tion and a reduced
* quality of life for-us
*- all. Do we want our

future to be more of.

the same?

Friday, April 7, 1995 - North Shore News - 19

THE BEAUTIFUL NATURAL FEATURES OF GUR REGION - THE MOUNTAINS AND THE STRAIT OF
GEORGIA - ART ALSO ITS NATURAL ROUNDARIES. THEY LIMIT HOW FAR WE CAN GOW AND
THEY ALSO INT THE FLONY OF AMR. WHATEVER WE PUT i OU AMR, WE WANT TO LIVE WEL.

YOU TOLD US TO SET A NEW COURSE... |
THE GVRD PLANS DO iT!

Thousands of you participated in
the Creating Our Future process to
make choices for Greater Vancouver's
future. After four years of input from
individuals, community and business
groups, and local governments, the
Board of the Greater Vancouver Regional
District (GVRD) has approved in princi-
ple the Livable Region Strategic Plan.
The Board has also approved the Air
Quality Management Plan and work is
almost complete on the Solid Waste
Management Plan. The Drinking Water
Quality Improvement Plan was
approved in 1994. Together, these strate-
gies will ensure that we and our children
can enjoy the benefits of growth in
Greater Vancouver without losing the

qualities that make our unique part of
the world so special.

HERE'S WHAT YGU TOLD US YOU
WANT:

* Clean air with: clear-views of the

mountains,

¢ Pretection for farmland, forests, park ‘
land and other green spaces.

* Opportunities to work closer to"
where you live so that you can spend
more time enjoying life and less time
commuting.

* Multi-purpose communities where
you can work, piay and run errands.

* Priority for walking, cycling and
public transit over private cars:

‘© More transportation options for

getting around the region.

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WE NEED TO ACT NOW

We can achieve the future we all
want, if each of us makes some smail.
changes in our everyday life. Together,
our individual actions can change the
direction of growth. For example, if
everyone who drives to work carpooled
or took transit just one day'a week, we
could reduce air pollution in the region
by 15 per cent! Inside you'll find more

examples of small changes that add up
to a livable region. However, we don’t
have much time. In the next 25 years,
the population of the Lower Mainland
is expected to grow from 1.8 million to
3 million people. If we don't change
our habits, we may lose some options,
along with our green space, clean air
and quality of life.

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