MELFORT — The City of Melfort is looking for public input for a plan that will guide its development for decades to come.
It’s been 15 years since the city has updated its official community plan, so the city has hired Saskatoon-based Crosby, Hanna and Associates to help develop a new one. The consulting company was at the May 10 Chase the Ace to educate the public about the plan and gather feedback.
“We’re here to ask people what they see Melfort being in 10, 20, 30 years and find out what’s important to them as residents in the growth and development of Melfort,” said Leanne DeLong, the consultant’s manager of community planning.
The plan is something that’s required by the province for the city.
“The official community plan is going to be a policy plan that reflects residents’ desires,” she said, adding they know that Melfort residents want to retain its small-town feel, see more affordable housing, and preserve its many historical buildings.
At the same time, the official community plan will also feature a growth plan that looks at what the city will need to have for a population of 10,000 by 2036.
“Development of an [official community plan] is about putting those ideas into the policy so that city council can make good decisions in terms of land use and development going forward,” DeLong said.
In terms of the plan’s progress, Crosby, Hanna and Associates has gathered a lot of background information. It has gone through the city, looking at how land is used and gathering GPS co-ordinates. It has looked at population trends and calculated how much land the city will need in the future.
The consultant has even developed a rough draft of a few parts of the plan. After the May 10 public session, Crosby, Hanna and Associates will provide the city with a more developed version of the plan, which will then be followed by an open house where residents can provide feedback.
DeLong said the goal is to have the plan finished this year.
The consulting company also added it’s important for Melfort residents to let their council know which way the city could go in the future.
