Over the next year, The Town of The Blue Mountains invites residents to share their ideas to help plan a bright and prosperous future for the community. Entitled “The Blue Mountains Future Story,” the project will support the creation of a Community Sustainability Plan that will guide decision-making in the Town for the next 50 years.
“The plan will define how we might build upon the unique attributes of the Town of The Blue Mountains while creating a shared path towards a future of increased livability, vibrancy and health of all living systems in our community,” says Councillor and Co-Chair of the Sustainability Advisory Committee, Andrea Matrosovs. “Building on the last plan, “The Sustainable Path” that was completed ten years ago, the project vision will build a holistic understanding of the community and will chart a clear, actionable path towards a future that is increasingly livable and healthy for all ages and stages of life.”
The Blue Mountains Future Story project will be active for the next year, with the final plan scheduled to be received by Council in January 2022. The project will be organized into three phases, with each phase focused on various public engagement opportunities, including public surveys, focus groups, and phone questionnaires. To communicate the development of the plan, a detailed project webpage has been created to serve as the primary source of information. Public engagement opportunities will be advertised in the local media, on the Town’s social media accounts and through posted community signage.
“The development of the Community Sustainability Plan will provide an active and forward-looking framework to guide the Town and community forward for the future generations to enjoy and prosper,” explained Mayor Alar Soever. “The work of the community through the development of the Sustainable Path document, seeded the initial vision for our community, and this plan aims to build upon that momentum through the development of innovative recommendations that will be developed through robust and extensive community and stakeholder consultation.”
Phase 1 will focus on an assessment of the community’s current state, while Phase 2 will develop a vision for the future. The final phase will include the development of actions with the plan focusing on four key elements:
- Social issues (how we can all live our best lives)
- Environmental concerns (how we protect our natural resources and manage climate changes)
- Economic considerations (how the community can remain vibrant and successful for decades to come)
- Cultural factors (how our human and natural heritage can be preserved and enhanced)
To kick-off the first phase of the project, the Town has launched a survey and invites residents to share their initial thoughts and feedback on what a sustainable future in the community looks like. To learn more about the Community Sustainability Plan and complete the survey, please visit: www.tbmfuturestory.ca.
This project will complement the other planning processes currently being undertaken by the Town, including the Official Plan Update, Master Transportation Plan, Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, Economic Development Strategy, and the Community Improvement Plan.
For more information, please contact: