CFB East Redevelopment: an Ecological Planning Perspective
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University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies Legacy Theses 1998 CFB east redevelopment: An ecological planning perspective Pierce, Robert Pierce, R. (1998). CFB east redevelopment: An ecological planning perspective (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/17457 http://hdl.handle.net/1880/26312 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. 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Bell 8 Howell Information and Learning 300 Norlh Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 481081346 USA THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY CFB East Redevelopment: An Ecological Planning Perspective Robert Pierce A MASTERS DEGREE PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MASTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN DEGREE FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN CALGARY, ALBERTA MAY, 1998 O Robert Pierce 1998 National Library Bibliotheque nationale 1S.I of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington OttawaON KIA ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada Your ble Vorre reterence Our hla Norre relerecce The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accorde une Licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive pennettant a la National Library of Canada to Bibliotheque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, preter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette these sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format electronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriete du copyright in hsthesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protege cette these. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la these ni des extraits substantiels may be p~tedor otherwise de cefle-ci ne doivent etre imprimes reproduced without the author' s ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Abstract CFB East Redevelopment: An Ecological Planning Perspective Robert Pierce May, 1998 Prepared in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Environmental Design (Planning) in the Faculty of Environmental Design, The University of Calgary Supervisor: Dr. Richard Levy The realization that the practice of contemporary suburban development runs counter to the concept of sustainabil ity is gaining prominence in North American communities. Yet, there are still growth pressures and suburbs continue to expand outward. One alternative to alleviate some of this outward sprawl is infill development both within cities and existing suburbs. If infill sites are to be exploited to their greatest potential, they must be developed in a manner which promotes sustainability. Ecological planning is one tool that can help communities accomplish this and contribute to sustainability. The closure of Canadian Forces Base Calgary presents an infill opportunity for Calgary, which is currently experiencing tremendous growth. The first portion of the site to be developed is the former military residential community known as CFB East. This Master's Degree Project examines if it is possible to achieve the City of Calgary's stated planning objectives for CFB East through an environmentally sensitive design approach that utilizes ecological planning. This approach attempts to lessen the impact of development on the environment and promote re-integration with natural systems. Key Words: Ecological Planning, Sustainability, Infill Redevelopment, CWCalgary, Ecological Community. Acknowledgements I wish to acknowledge the support and advice provided by my supervisory committee chairman, Dr. hchard Levy and external committee member, Dr. Diane Draper throughout the completion of this MDP. I would also like to thank the City of Calgary, Planning and Buildng Department for providing me with much of the information for this project. In particular, I would like to express my appreciation to Paul Cochrane, Linda Hackman, Norah Li, Lonny Gabinet, and Michele Broadhurst, all of whom I worked with on the CFB Planning Team. I must recognize the help given to me by my classmates Heather Galbraith, Sarah Duncan, Liz Tough, and Kim Blanchard by acting as sounding boards, sources of obscure journal articles and books, presentation guinea pigs, and computer consultants. Finally, my heartfelt thanks to my wife Barb, for her encouragement, assistance, and willingness to live with a shadow of a husband for the last two yean. Dedication Ib Burb for her support, putience, and love. Contents 1.1 &lrUOF bmP 3 1.2 OBJECTIVES 3 1.3 ORG~TIONOF MDP 3 1.4 SCOPE OF MDP AND ASSUMPIlQNS 4 2 Literature Review 6 2.1 ~NTROD~JCTION 6 2.2 CONTEMPORARYURBAN DEVELOP MEN^ 6 2.3 DEF~ONOF ECOLOGICAL P-G 7 2.4 ~PLICATIONSOF ?)E ACCEPTANCE OF ECOLOGICAL PLANNING 9 2.5 ~LATfONSHFTO SUSTAINABILITY I1 2.6 PRLNCLPLESOF ECOLOGICALPLANNING 13 2.7 A ~~EIT~ODOF ECOLOG~CAL PLANNING 17 2.8 PERFORMANCEO~EC~ES AND DESIGNTOOLS 18 4 Detailed Site Analysis 4 1 5 Conct~tualDesinn and Comaarativt Analv~is 64 6 Conclusion and Recommendations 86 6.1 GENEl?M 86 6.2 BARRIERSTO IMPLEMENTATIONAND RECOMMJNDATIONS 86 References 9 1 A~rrcndiccs 96 List of Figures 1 Figure 2- 1 1 Circular Metabolism 13 i i Figure 7-2 / Hydrological Cycle I 28 ; 1 Figure 1-1 / Existing Development, CFB East I 43 Fi yre 4-2 Typical PMQ i .- - - 1 Figure 4-3 j CFB East Internal Roads 57 ! [ Figure 5- 1 ' Land Use Key Legend I 65 / r1 Fi-gure 5-2 ! CFB East 11 Concept 66 ! I Figure 5-3 I CFB East I1 Conceptual Plan 67 1 1 Figure 54 1 CFB East I1 Movement System 69 1 I Figure 5-5 1 CFB East I Concept I 71 1 I ! Figure 5-6 1 CFB East I District Heating Density Areas I 75 i Fi,gure 5-7 CFB East 11 District Heating Density Areas I 75 j 1 I Figure 5-8 1 CFB East 11 Solar Orientation Example 76 1 I [ Figure 5-9 / CFB East I Open Space I 84 / 1 Figure 5- 10 CFB East I1 Open space I 84 I List of Tables and Graphs r-- - I 1 Table 2- 1 / Principles of ~cok~calPlanning [ ! Table 4- l Natural Systems Consolidated Opportunities and Constraints 52 j I I Table 4-2 . Human Systems Consolidated Opportunities and Constraints 1 62 1 Table 5-1 City of Calgary Planning Objectives Comparison ! 72 i I 1 --- -- [ Table 5-2 ! Electricity ~onsurn~ti&Comparison I 73 1 1 Table 5-3 Solar Oriented Residentiai Street Frontage Comparison I 76 I Table 5-4 I Water Saving Com~arison lI 79 / - 7-- - i Table 5-5 / lrnpermeable Surface Area Comparison I 81 1 Table 5-6 1 Open Space comparison I 83 1 I Graoh 5-1 ! Toilet Water Consurnotion for CFB East I1 I 80 1 vii List of Maps IMapl-1 IKeyMap I -3 I I 1 Map 4- I Study Area Location I 42 I I Map 4-2 I 49 i Topography , / Map 4-3 Existing Land Use I 55 ; 1 Background Closures of military bases and stations in Canada and many other countries have become more frequent with the end of the cold war and shrinking defence budgets. A base closure is defined as: Terminating military activity at the base, and transferring personnel and equipment. The property may be used by another federal agency, sold to the province or municipality, sold in the marketplace at fair marlier value, or turned over to the community (Bruce 1995). In February of 1995, the Government of Canada announced that Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Calgary was to be closed by the end of 1998. Only 8 kilometres from Calgary's downtown core and well within its older suburbs, the soon to be closed 184 hectare (455 acre) military base offers unique re-development potential. The City of Calgary published a proposed CFB East Community Plan in February of 1998. The City of Calgary planning process for the reuse of the base lands calls for the former military residential area to be redeveloped first. This area, known as CFB East, is located east of Crowchild Trail and is approximately 70 hectares ( 174 acres) in size (see Map I - I ). Calgary is under great pressure to continue its pattern of outward suburban sprawl. CFB East offers the possibility of alleviating some of this pressure.