Do you agree with the following vision element?
"Integrate Principles of Sustainability into Decision-Making Processes"
View the 2011 NSSCP description of this vision element below:
Change is inevitable. It is a fact of life that cannot be ignored. Change in small, rural communities – whether good or bad, big or small – is especially evident and often times controversial. By nature of its population size and scale of development, rural communities tend to be more sensitive to change, and residents of rural areas tend to be more directly affected by the actions of others. While change can be difficult, it is necessary because an inability to adapt to changing conditions can lead to stagnation and failure.
A community that successfully manages change will flourish and prosper in the future. For the North Shore, this means ensuring that planned growth and development respects and adheres to the principles of sustainability.
The North Shore’s principles of sustainability have promoted the long-term health of the land and community resources for both current and future generations of residents:
• Protect the environment, natural resources, existing flora and fauna, and where appropriate, open spaces and view planes.
• Use resources so they are not depleted, permanently damaged or destroyed.
• Avoid pollution and exceeding the limits of existing infrastructure systems.
• Respect the cultural, social and physical resources that shape residents’ sense of community and rural quality of life.
• Honor the process of change. Make no decisions without first understanding the effects such change will have on the land and community resources.
• Strive for balance between economic prosperity, social and community well-being, and environmental stewardship. Adopt a multidisciplinary approach acknowledging the importance of our community capital in land use and infrastructure planning decisions.