11 Other Comments

Do you have any other comments on the new Municipal Development Plan?

Initial Comments:

Could use more generative dialog where everyone could get involved and know what others are saying. See

Towards Online Deliberative Public Dialog Using Blogger and Other Tools

4 Objective 2: Provide housing options

Objective 2: Provide housing options to meet diverse needs of residents with differing incomes and ages

Policies:

• Provide greater selection in housing densities and types
• Integrate different housing densities and types in new and redeveloping areas
• Maintain current housing form in mature neighbourhoods while providing limited duplex and row housing redevelopment opportunities
• Work with two density levels in new and redeveloping areas:
  • Level 1 (lower) = mix of single family homes, duplexes, row houses
  • Level 2 (higher) = low rise multi-family buildings, row houses, mixed use development
• Provide more affordable housing options for families, and active and aging seniors (range of care)
• Focus higher density and seniors housing in proximity to amenities, transit, and gathering places

Initial Comments:

How do you define the difference between mature neighborhoods and redeveloping areas. Are not all existing neighborhoods mature. Who defines which and when neighborhoods become redeveloping areas. In existing neighborhoods where revitalization needs to take place, housing and commercial densities could remain the same to keep the integrity of the neighborhood. For example, in the central area of the City old buildings could be replaced with replicas of historical buildings built to modern code and energy efficiency. This would accomplish two objectives one to preserve our heritage and the other to revitalize the area so that it would not become run down. People who wish to have larger lots with garden space and live in a historical setting would have that choice.

There may be areas that need redeveloped but this needs to be carefully considered on an individual bases not as a blanked policy. The policy could be reworded "Densities for designated redeveloping areas would be determined on area redevelopment plan basis."

5 Objective 3: Develop neighbourhood ...

Dialog on Your Bright Future Survey

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Dialog Post (survey item 2) 2 Spruce Grove Vision 2040 (City in the Country)

5 Objective 3: Develop neighbourhood ...

Objective 3: Develop neighbourhood and community level gathering places

Policies:

• Focus amenities, transit, and mixed use development around gathering places
• Create and reinforce ‘special places’ which act as informal and formal gathering places
• Incorporate culture and recreation resources into gathering places
• Community level gathering places typically include:
• - Informal and formal space, potentially open space
• - More diversity in commercial options
• - Community-wide services
• - Transit with potential for Park & Ride and trail/sidewalk connections
• Neighbourhood level gathering places typically include:
• - Informal space, some open space
• - Neighhourhood commercial
• - Transit stop/trail connection
• - Pedestrian orientation

Initial Comments:

OK but special consideration should be given to schools and other strategic facilities, so that neighborhoods and the community as a whole have easy access.

6 Objective 4: Integrate different forms of transportation

6 Objective 4: Integrate different forms of transportation

Objective 4: Integrate different forms of transportation and increase community connections to create a more efficient transportation network

Policies:

• Focus transit around gathering places and increase transit options
• Enhance people’s ability to walk and bike between gathering places and commercial corridors
• Implement roadway and interchange improvements to reduce congestion

Initial Comment:

Alternates to automobiles and bikes such as electric carts could be considered with special pathways which could be used by bikes and carts.

7 Objective 5: Show environmental leadership

7 Objective 5: Show environmental leadership

Objective 5: Show environmental leadership by developing and implementing policy and engaging the community

Policies:

• Intensify land use and protect agricultural land
• Preserve significant natural areas (e.g. tree stands, wetlands)
• Decrease automobile dependency within Spruce Grove and to employment centres
• Foster use of green building and eco-industrial practices, and alternative energy
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Expand on management and public stewardship programs

Initial Comment:

Intensifying land use could have a negative effect on the environment in the long term. For example, eliminating garden space and agricultural land near the City, could increase the energy needed to produce and transport food to where it is consumed.

8 Objective 6: Spruce Grove has a strong

8 Objective 6: Spruce Grove has a strong

Objective 6: Spruce Grove has a strong civic culture, high quality of life, and diverse cultural and recreational opportunities in first-class facilities

Policies:

• Incorporate public health and safety components into community design
• Protect existing and develop new cultural resources and active/passive recreation options for people of all ages
• Develop complementary uses and services around culture and recreation resources where appropriate
• Foster public participation and volunteerism and increase social networks

Initial Comment:

The policies are OK but the plans and strategies for implementing them needs to be carefully considered, especially the public participation.

9 Objective 7: Show leadership

9 Objective 7: Show leadership

Objective 7: Show leadership through governance practices and decisions

• Engage community members and respond to their needs and input
• Achieve transparency and accountability
• Set results-oriented goals
• Base decisions on facts, efficient resource use, long-term objectives, and the Sustainable Development Charter

Initial Comment:

Policies are OK but plans and strategies need to be in place to support the policies. These policies need to be part of developing and implementing the MDP

10 Objective 8: Maintain relationships

10 Objective 8: Maintain relationships

Objective 8: Maintain relationships with other municipalities, authorities, and agencies in the Capital Region

Policies:

• Promote efficient land use, infrastructure and service delivery through joint planning with Parkland County, Stony Plain and other Capital Region municipalities
• Pursue partnerships to enhance program and service delivery and efficient resource use
• Work together to adapt and respond to new challenges and opportunities

Initial Comment:

The objective could to be stronger. Perhaps adding the words in single quotes would heip help "Maintain 'and develop' relationships and 'partners' with...

3 Objective 1: Provide commercial options

Objective 1: Provide commercial options that offer local employment opportunities and diversify the tax base

Policies:

• Create distinct identities for different areas and types of commercial/industrial development
• Focus regional commercial uses in existing commercial corridors (possible exception is Special Study Areas in existing Area Structure Plans)
• Revitalize downtown with focus on small-scale service and pedestrian oriented commercial uses and mixed-use development
• Integrate pedestrian-oriented neighbourhood commercial uses into neighbourhood level gathering places
• Accommodate range of commercial/industrial uses south of Hwy 16A and east of Campsite Rd in targeted areas based on type of use and need for visibility

Initial Comments:

In Revitalizing downtown we need to consider the heritage value of the area. The policy could be reworded "Revitalize downtown with focus on heritage, small-scale... mixed-use development (depending on what that means). Existing historical buildings like the brick block and 1908 house could be preserved and other historical buildings replicated and 1st avenue and McLeod avenues designated as a gathering place for tourists and citizens that would like an historical atmosphere, with unique restaurants and other services (like the Chinese restaurant and barbershop that used to be in the brick block, Gifts and Gadgets, Jack's Drive In etc.).

Do we want to have all of our commercial-industrial development South of Hwy. 16a or do we want residential nearby so people can walk or bike to work?

4 Objective 2: Provide housing options

2 Spruce Grove Vision 2040 (City in the Country)

Through strength of partnerships and local knowledge, we are a well planned city. We respond and adapt to new challenges and opportunities. Ours is a compact, safe, well-designed, and efficient city which emphasizes connectivity and accessibility. We offer a range of housing, employment, open space, and transportation options while protecting agricultural lands and natural areas. We make environmental programs a top priority. We have a strong civic culture and offer diverse cultural and recreational programs in first-class facilities. A high quality of life and environment make the City of Spruce Grove the community of choice.

Comment: Here an initial comment add yours to the discussion.

Compactness could be in contrast with our roots as a "City in the Country" if we do not keep our country values and land use priorities. This concept could be considered by adding the underlined words words in that sentence as follows "efficient city 'in the country', which ...

Go to 3 Objective 1: Provide commercial options

Spruce Grove Uniting for Children & Youth Network

If your group wants to be part of this network, send an email to sgrovec@gmail.com and/or make a comment to this post with a link to your organization's website.

• Parents As Coaches Network

Summer Student Employment Opportunities:

Below are the positions that FACTS has applied for. If others have job openings please make a comment with a link to your job posting or how someone can contact you.

• Spruce Grove, Stony Plain & West Edmonton Positions 09 (Heritage)
  
• Spruce Grove Summer Jobs (Make, Fix, Recylce)