East Acreages a priority for 2017

Completion of the East Acreages Area Structure Plan (ASP) has been designated as a priority project by the city for 2017.
This ASP has been in the works for a long time said Mayor Patricia Matthews.
“There have been several staff changes since the process began and the initial ASP was turned down by Council,” she said in an e-mail.
Council wanted a permanent solution to providing services to the area instead of the temporary solution offered by staff in the original ASP.
“Given that direction it took us a while to figure that out,” said Acting Manager of Planning Jose Reyes, “now we’re in a position to move forward.”
This was presented by staff to city council at the Sept. 19 meeting.
“Council wants to make sure that resident’s concerns are addressed and that we all come to a plan for the area that is beneficial not only for those residents but for our community in the long run. We had asked for staff to let us know what the next steps are and they addressed those at the meeting,” said Matthews.
Reyes said that much of the existing plan can be kept as staff work towards a solution to the services for the area.
“Maybe 75 per cent of the work has already been done on this,” he said.
If no new challenges present themselves to staff, Reyes said that the ASP could pass third and final reading in council next summer.
“Council, staff and residents have been working for a very long time to get an ASP approved for this area,” said Matthews.