Test post
#BowenIdeas forum about to start. 80 or concerned citizens here to talk abot the island's Official Community Plan
twitpic.com#BowenIdeas Mayor, council members, reps from 30-40 interest groups here to talk about the future of our island home. Citizenship in action.
Everyone off in breakout sessions of 6-10 people, boiling down their groups' wishes to 1-sentence key messages that will be shared with the whole room.
Correction: breakout sessions are trying to identify common issues among the groups sitting at each table. Theses common isues will be presented to the whole later in the evening.
Still here...breakouts soon to wrap up.
Excellent idea, Paul. Alas we're too far into the process to add that dicussion; and it wasn't planned for.
Themes from Table #1: 1.) simplify & clarify OCP to make more readable 2. better define affordable housing 3.) endorse Bowen as earthy green oasis 4.) encourage cluster housing to preserve open space 5.) encourage diverse housing types 6.) define criteris used to assess socio-eco carrying capacity of the island
Themes from Table #3: 1.) debate business viability as engine of growth & consider challenging notions of growing business economy as solution 2.) can we define affordability and identify real needs 3.) we need a community centre 4.) call to action: what can we do in next 5-7 years of OCP--enough of big ideas 5.) if each visitor to Bowen soends $54 what can we do to increase that 6) is volunteerism dying?
Themes from Table #2: 1.) need to re-examine the concept of density 2.) need tools to encourage affordable housing 3.) call for OCP designations that encourage recreational, cultural & educational facilities/services 4.) foster promote local economy 5.) encourage nodal, more complete neighbourhoods 5.) create land use patterns that protect the character (which needs defining, but is combo of environmental, social & economic issues) we have
Themes from Table #4: 1.) increased protection of environmentally sensitive land for agriculture 2.) safeguard sanctity of property rights 3.) enhance economic self-sufficiency 4.) make island economy more resilient & diverse 5.) create a facility for community performances, cultural recreation and assemblies
Themes from Table #5: 1.) nurture an inclusive community 2.) develop transportation, i.e. road & trail use & creative solutions for public transit 3.) distinguish between needs & wants, but focus on needs 4.) discuss what is density, population cap 5.) define a long-term vision (20-30 years out) and work back 6.) allow residential accessory buildings on large lots, i.e. is it OK to have 5 acres with one house on it? 7.) consider diversity of housing options
Themes from Table #6: 1.) problem is not with positions but with establishing priorities--what would the mechanism be? 2.) require researching heritage value of property or building before developing 3.) build an inventory of heritage properties 4.) define heritage e.g. some apple trees here have great value 5.) establish heritage commission 6.) recognize need for diversity of housing 7.) need clarity re population density 8.) consider clustering, density, amenities, co-housing & multi-family as solutions to affordable housing problem 9.) remind municipality of cultural plan &its recommendations 10.) there is strong support for multi-use facility/community centre 11.) establish cultural & economic plan
Themes from Table #7: 1.) presernve & utilize existing land w/ agricultural potential using sustainable agricultural practices 2.) provide access to affordable land & housing, e.g. could be housing on working agricultural land 3.) activate & implement Snug Cove Plan 4.) consider soil & waste management & improvement 5.) give right to farm 6.) dinsification, cluster housing that encourages work-live near agricultural lands - woofers 7.) development cost charges 8.) municipality implementing eceonomic development plan 9.) restorative approach to land use--reference Holland Barrs report & incorporate into OCP
Themes from Table #8: 1.) Identify existing OCP statement prohibiting implementation of recognized community objectives 2.) consider conflict between population growth & rural characer 3.) encourage youth involvement 4.) encourage collaborative, inclusive forms of government 5.) create a tree bylaw, a true green charter & zero-waste living 6.) consider rights of individual vs needs of community
Themes from Table #9: 1.) affordable housing 2.) community connection in new developments 3.) develop youth involvement, facilities 4.) population maximum? 5.) community water taxi? 6.) community gardens 7.) health care--unique requirements e.g. helicopters 8.) density 9.) no street lights
Themes from Table #10: 1.) need affordable housing 2.) need tourism to be supported within loacl econ develop plan 3.) need to deal with grwoing need for gymnastics facility 4.) need more trails for horse riders, biker etc. 5.) keep alive Bowen as "earthy green oasis" even at final build out
Themes posted on walls: People will take 15 minutes to tag the themes with their four green dots & one red dot
Results of the green/red dot voting to be posted soon.
Thanks everyone for participating!
by Braddo via Twitpic 10/23/2009 2:17:36 AM
Braddo
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