Golden recognized for innovative planning

The Town of Golden received a Community Excellence Award from the Union of BC Municipalities at their recent Vancouver conference. What follows are excerpts from the award document.

From page to stage: fostering health and environment in Golden.

by Cleopatra Corbett, planner for the Town of Golden. Reprinted with permission.

Residing in the spectacular wilderness of the Rocky Mountains and the Columbia Basin, residents of Golden are particularly conscious and connected to their natural environment. Their admiration is demonstrated in the recently adopted 2008 Official Community Plan (OCP) where environmental initiatives, along with creating a healthier and more sustainable community remain the forefront of the agenda.

Throughout the establishment of the Golden Official Community Plan (OCP), an innovative, creative, and engaging approach to community-building was exercised. The process surrounded reducing the involvement of Council and focusing on the aspirations and considerations of local residents. Over one thousand Golden residents were educated and engaged throughout the OCP process, resulting in policy document that captures a diverse range of views and perspectives.

In compiling the thoughts, skills, and aptitudes of local residents the OCP developed into a truly authentic and innovative document. Unrestrained by the perceived limits of human and fiscal resources, and inspired by their vision of a healthful and desirable community, residents compiled innovative initiatives to guide the planning and management of the town into the future. Pioneering initiatives include: green building incentives, affordable housing mandates, innovative and flexible in zoning opportunities, active transportation, food security, community gathering places, ethical trading policies, and a range of other creative and fearless initiatives.

Inspired by the commitment, determination, and forward thinking displayed by community members, local government has been diligently transforming their visions into a reality. Since the OCP’s adoption, profound progress has been made in implementing the goals and objectives put forth in the community-driven document.

Exhibiting excellence and innovation, creativity and vision, Golden is forging a unique path. The path, riddled with insight, innovation and challenges, has moved Golden towards a healthier, greener, and more sustainable community, and left residents with a budding sense of pride and accomplishment.

Introduction to the official community plan

To understand where we are today, you must know how we got here. The first project to be described is the Official Community Plan process.

The development of the Official Community Plan reveals the Town of Golden’s innovative, engaging, and bottom-up approach to community building. The process, which involved reducing the involvement of Council, and focusing on the aspirations of the citizen base, can be seen as an exemplary template for community education and engagement. Moreover the citizens, deeply invested in environmental advocacy, identified a myriad of environmental initiatives that guide community to a greener, more sustainable future.

Golden’s OCP process was distinct in that the majority of the plan was developed by the citizenry. The majority of the document was compiled by a Steering Committee- a compilation of diverse residents between the ages of 12 and 80, who had been chosen on account of their differing views, and perspectives. Supplemented and supported by the feedback of over 1000 fellow residents, including 300 youth, the committee tackled serious environmental, economic, social and cultural issues and opportunities affecting their community and their lives.

Community engagement events went beyond the standard open houses to include:

• Public free skate nights
• Jam night at a local pub
• Having tables outside the grocery store
• Coffee Klatches
• Youth events at the high school

Guiding principles formulated by the public included:

• preserving and enhancing Golden’s character
• spurring regional collaboration
• augmenting community sustainability

Innovative policies developed by the committee included but are not limited to:

• 15% of Residential Developments must be affordable as defined by Golden
• Trading Density for Green Buildings and amenities (Density Bonusing)
• Addressing Golden customized Smart Growth Principles

Golden’s unique bottom-up approach can be seen as an exemplary template for enhancing community engagement. By encouraging the aspirations of local residents the final document is truly the realization of its people. Moreover the sense of pride and accomplishment attained from contributing to such efforts left participants with an appetite for community involvement. When you have a process like this, the community understands and holds pride in their plan and they demand its implementation.

The following sections of this submission outline what projects and initiatives have been implemented since the OCP’s adoption in February of 2008.