Norquay Village Neighbourhood Centre Program - Q & A
Public Process for the Norquay Neighbourhood Centre Planning Program
Q. How is the community involved in the Neighbourhood Centre planning program?
A. The Neighbourhood Centre Program (NCP) includes community involvement throughout the planning process. The planning work done through the NCP takes about 18 – 24 months. During the program, the NCP team sends out newsletters to all neighbourhood residents to keep them up to date regarding the planning program and to inform them of upcoming Open Houses and Public Meetings; at least 4 Open House Public Meetings are interspersed throughout the process. Public Open Houses are augmented by a more intense collaborative process in which planning staff work with two ‘working groups’ made up of neighbourhood volunteers, including residents (renters and homeowners), property owners, and business owners to develop proposals for a Housing Area Plan and a Shopping Area Plan. A neighbourhood-wide survey is used to evaluate community preferences and support for the draft Housing and Shopping Area Plans. Final plans are shown to the neighbourhood in an Open House before being taken to City Council for approval. City Council makes the final decision on whether to adopt the Neighbourhood Centre Plans: members of the public have the right to speak before Council at that time Council is considering adoption of the Plan.
Timeline
The Norquay Village Neighbourhood Centre Program began in early 2006
January-March 2006 |
Staff undertook outreach, meeting with various neighbourhood groups, business owners, and community associations to notify them of NC Program, and to recruit interest in participating in the working groups |
Early March 2006 |
Newsletter #1 sent to all residents in the Norquay study area, announcing and describing the Program, the ‘Kick-Off’ Open House; and requesting people to volunteer for one of the working groups. |
March 25, 2006 |
Kick-Off Open House at Renfrew Community Centre. About 250 people attended -- Attendees were invited to apply to join one of two working groups. |
April 2006 |
Working Groups established and begin meeting. |
April – June 2006 |
Working Groups meet five times. |
July – August 2006 |
Break from working group meetings, staff do research and preparation for charrette in fall |
September–Dec 2006 |
Working Groups meet five times. |
October 2006 |
Norquay Village charrette with staff and working group members. |
Late October 2006 |
Newsletter #2 is sent out to about 4000 households in the study area, advertising the Open Houses in November. |
November 1 & 3, 2006 |
Open House #2 at Norquay Elementary to show some of the ideas that came out of the charrette. Approximately 150 people attend the two Open Houses. |
January – March 2007 |
Working Groups meet with planning staff two times to develop Draft Housing Area Plan and Draft Shopping Area Plan |
March – May 2007 |
Staff prepare Newsletter #3 and Survey. |
Late May 2007 |
Newsletter #3 + Survey is sent to 4000 households in the study area. |
June 14 & 16, 2007 |
Open Houses at Norquay Elementary School and Renfrew Community Centre. Approximately 300 people attended the Open Houses. |
June 20, 2007 |
Survey period ends. |
July 23, 2007 |
Civic Strike begins. |
October 12, 2007 |
Civic Strike ends. |
Survey analysis and further community consultation were interrupted by the civic strike. Work on the Norquay NCP has now resumed and staff are currently re-establishing our work program and continuing on with survey analysis. The City continues to be committed to further public consultation in Norquay Village. Further consultation will provide an opportunity to bring together all points of view -- including those residents who have concerns about the draft plan as well as those who favour the draft plan -- and to move forward to address the issues.
Learn more about details on upcoming meetings and workshops.
For more information:
- Neighbourhood Centres Terms of Reference
(103kb) - Norquay Terms of Reference (345kb)
- Original Norquay Work Schedule (117kb)
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