Lantzville residents could re-envision the future of the community this year in a “comprehensive” official community plan review.
The last time Lantzville laid out its vision for growth and land use was more than a decade ago and it’s only had one official community plan since the municipality incorporated in 2003.
Councillors now want another look at the plan, a process budgeted to cost a total $110,000 over 2016-17. Councillors also recommended in a committee of the whole meeting last week to establish an operating reserve to lay away money for the next review.
An official community plan is the vision for the future and often referred to when a developer comes forward with a request for rezoning, according to Coun. Bob Colclough, who says normally municipalities review the OCP every five years. Lantzville is in a different position, especially in regards to water.
“Now we’re in a position where we know we have at least some excess capacity, some extra water we didn’t have before from our wells and we have the option of connecting to the City of Nanaimo,” he said.
He and Coun. Will Geselbracht are interested in looking at the diversity and affordability of housing, pointing out challenges to find housing for older individuals and young families.
For Geselbracht, this is about deciding what should be done with undeveloped areas of the community, like near Pioneer Park and on either side of Ware Road.
The public needs to provide input on what kind of development it wants, he said, whether it’s seniors housing, smaller lots or trailer parks.
“You need the community to say what they want, what sort of amenities would they like to see,” he said, adding that part of the OCP is the downtown area. The current main street with its intersection at Lantzville and Dickinson roads is high-traffic and crowded. He asks if there’s a need for another main street, with a mix of commercial and residential.
Coun. Mark Swain calls a review overdue. An out-of-date OCP has been used as an argument on why not to move forward on certain issues, he said, adding it will also be beneficial to have a community voice through public consultation on things like zoning, development, water and sewer.
The OCP review and its budget still must go to a council meeting before moving ahead.