More input is needed in a planning document for development over the next ten years in the Town of Riverview.
Two open houses will be held this week on the future municipal plan and zoning by-law. The first is June 12 from 1 pm to 3 pm, and another from 6pm to 8 pm in Council Chambers at Riverview Town Hall.
“The municipal plan and the zoning by-law really go together, and it is a critical planning document that really lays out how the community will develop over the next ten years or so.
It’s required that communities review every ten years,” says CAO Colin Smith.
“The whole process began last year. The council named a plan review committee, a group of citizens with staff to support them. Last June, they had a public engagement session to start the process to hear what the public thought about future planning in the community. That formed the foundation for the committee to go through the municipal plan. They have been meeting once a month, looking at updating it. The committee wanted to go back in and engage the residents again to get their reaction before the final draft is completed and presented to the council,” Smith adds.
What is a Municipal Plan, you ask? It’s an urban planning tool that represents a roadmap and guidebook for Riverview.
It includes things like:
- Where houses, shops, and parks should be built
- Where we can protect natural areas
- Where we need roads, schools, and other important infrastructure
- Building requirements, guidelines, and processes
“Once we get into the formal proceedings of approval, we hope to start that in July because it takes a number of months. Once we introduce it to the council as an updated plan, there is a public presentation that has to be scheduled, and a public hearing, and that probably wouldn’t happen until September.”
Following that will be the second and third readings of the plan. The goal is to have the updated plan completed before the end of 2025.
Visit the project website for more information.
