Moving forward

Summerside taking next step in urban planning process

Summerside is moving ahead with its long-term plan for the city’s downtown core.

Coun. Bruce MacDougall recently announced a new committee will begin working on implementing form-based code under the Summerside Urban Core Plan.

“We’ve gone through the official plan, but we want the people of the downtown and residents of the city to come forward, have their input submitted,” said MacDougall.

“We have a designer who works downtown. There are two people I believe from the heritage committee. We’ve tried to cover all areas.’’ Coun. Bruce MacDougall

Form-based code gives potential investors as much information as possible regarding what a community expects from them and their projects as early in the process as possible, cutting red tape and reducing the process before a company or investor settles in a community.

The city chose a handful of residents, business owners and members of the heritage society to be a part of the committee. MacDougall chairs the committee, which includes Basil Haire, Natalie Hashie, Peter Ratelle, Peter Holman, Arnold Croken, Brendan Henry and Sean Aylward.

“We have a designer who works downtown. There are two people I believe from the heritage committee. We’ve tried to cover all areas,” MacDougall said.

Past discussions of the Urban Core Plan have caused controversy among some members of the heritage society.

“It’s why we wanted people from that area on the committee, so those people have a voice for their suggestions,” MacDougall said. “I think we have all the bases covered.”

Recommendations from the technical services committee are currently being reviewed, said MacDougall.

“We’re open to any suggestions on how we can move the form-based code along so it can become a part of the official plan.”