The Town of Preeceville is initiating a planning review project to adopt a new official community plan and a new zoning bylaw to “better guide development within our community,” said Lorelei Karcha, administrator.
The town council has engaged Tim Cheesman, and his planning team to prepare the plan and bylaw, Karcha said. The planning team has been requesting public input on the project over the last few months.
The planning team hosted a stakeholders luncheon held at the Preeceville Club 60 on March 1 when members of the public were encouraged to participate in a survey that featured nine questions in regard to the initiated plan.
The luncheon was well attended by representatives from the business community; recreation and seniors’ organizations; the faith community; social services, hospital and fire department; service organizations; the school; heritage and ecological societies; builders and contractors, and other service clubs, said Karcha.
Representatives of the Town of Sturgis and the RM of Preeceville were also in attendance. Discussions that featured the survey questions were held on social issues, economic development, recreation facilities and programs, housing, transportation, infrastructure improvements, environmental and safety concerns and regional initiatives.
“The town’s zoning bylaw is outdated and does not reflect the changing needs of the town and provides almost no direction on growth,” she said. “In order to update the zoning bylaw, the provincial government requires the town to adopt an official community plan.”
The benefit of having an overall plan with “action” items will assist town council in planning cost-effective infrastructure and balancing residential, commercial, recreational and industrial development, Karcha said.
Results of the public consultation process will be made available to the public after the planners and town council analyse the data gathered from the public engagement process. The draft official community plan will be made available to the public, hopefully this spring.
Residents are being encouraged to participate in the short survey available until March 31 at www.townofpreeceville.ca. Paper copies are also available at the town office.
“You may also provide your comments directly to the Planning Consultants at tcheesman@accesscomm.ca.”
