A comprehensive blueprint for guiding Martensville’s future for the next three decades was unveiled at a Martensville City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 2.
The city’s new draft Official Community Plan (OCP) is now up for public review, with online consultations scheduled until March 23. The public can access the consultations by logging onto the city’s official website at www.martensville.ca .
The 160-page document by consultants Wallace Insights, V3 and Trace Associates was completed January 25 and is the result of a year-long review of the city’s current OCP,
The draft OCP is a comprehensive policy framework intended to guide the physical, environmental, economic, social and cultural development of the community until the year 2050, at which time the population is projected to reach 28,000 people.
Suggestions from the public over the next couple weeks are expected to be incorporated into the final OCP document, which will come before city council on April 6 for first reading of a bylaw to adopt it as official policy.
A public hearing on the document is slated for the May 18 city council meeting.
Once the OCP passes second and third reading at council, it must then be approved by the province before it takes effect.
The draft OCP, written in plain language, outlines the city’s overall vision. Each of its 14 sections focuses on a specific aspect of the city’s policies to accommodate expected growth.
The draft OCP incorporates new policies regarding the importance of ensuring cultural and significant heritage assets are integrated into the fabric of the city over time.
Among the objectives specific to residential housing, the draft OCP states the city will strive to provide an affordable range of housing types for all ages. It also seeks to “support and enhance the small-town community feel” which many residents say is a big part of the quality of life in the community.
Other sections of the document focus on the city’s policies regarding: commercial, industrial, parks and recreational amenities, transportation, community services and utilities, taxation and spending, environmental stewardship, regional cooperation, and youth engagement.
The draft OCP also incorporates the city’s new concept plans for the area west of Highway 12 and the future southeast neighbourhood.