St. Stephen residents now have a chance to comment on the community’s proposed municipal plan.
The draft document was presented during the March regular council meeting on Wednesday evening.
Alex Henderson, planning director for the Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission, said the document helps guide development over the next decade.
“When you look at land development, all kinds of things are related to it. Your municipal bylaws, your capital budgets, programs, grants, a lot of stuff gets tied into development of community or a community not development,” Henderson said in his presentation to council.
The plan includes 10 key focus areas, which Henderson said were common themes among residents and business owners.
- Facilitate the development of affordable apartments and houses
- Support industrial employers and small businesses to expand
- Reduce costs and lower municipal fees and taxes that impede development
- Protect water quality, natural watercourses and drinking water supplies
- Revitalize downtown and improve its image for visitors/hotel development
- Make parks more fun and increase year-round recreation/events for all ages
- Address resident homelessness in a fair and compassionate manner
- Improve local streets and the quality of municipal infrastructure
- Direct focus to crime prevention and unsightly/ dangerous premises
- Protect rural freedom, promote agricultural development, and support local farms
Wednesday night’s presentation marks the start of a public consultation period over the next month, said Henderson.
“Folks can read the document, they can provide their letter to council and say ‘here’s what I agree with, here’s what I disagree with, maybe change this.’ That’s what these next 30 days are for,” he added.
During the April 30 council meeting, Henderson said council could decide to do the first reading of the proposed plan, set a date for a public hearing and refer it to the Planning Review and Adjustment Committee for a technical view.
Council could then formally adopt the plan at its regular May meeting, but the planning director noted they could change the schedule as they see fit.
You can view the draft municipal plan here.
