City seeks resident input on Official Community Plan
By Kyra Hoggan
How would you like a say in shaping your community for years – perhaps even decades – to come?
That’s exactly what the City of Castlegar wants, as council encourages residents to offer their suggestions and input at the final public consultation regarding the Official Community Plan (OCP). “We’re re-doing ours – it hasn’t been re-worked in years,” said city councillor Kevin Chernoff, explaining the past two years have seen an OCP steering committee, city council, focus groups and residents working to hone an up-to-date document that will serve to guide city growth in the years to come. “The OCP impacts pretty much everything, from parks to parking spaces …even bike stands – it’s a comprehensive document,” Chernoff said. “It’s not the best on-the-edge-of-your-seat reading, maybe, but it’s worth going through with a fine-tooth comb. It’s important.” The meeting, to be held from 3 to 8 p.m. on May 25 at the Community Forum, will begin with a staff presentation, after which staff and council will accept feedback and answer questions. The city is also accepting feedback via the Castlegar website, where you can read the current draft OCP and submit your comments by visiting http://www.castlegar.ca/notice.php?id=153 “Once we have the feedback, we’ll go back and try to incorporate everything,” said Chernoff. “Hopefully, very soon, we’ll have a new, up-to-date Official Community Plan that will guide the growth of Castlegar in a way that serves everyone’s wants and needs.”
