Project Lunenburg invites public to have their say
‘The decisions are squarely in the community’s wheelhouse’ says councillor
The Town of Lunenburg wants your input to help map out the future.
The town recently held its first public consultation for the process, which has been dubbed Project Lunenburg, on Feb. 27.
Steffen Kaeubler, project manager for the UPLAND consulting team, said the information gathered will help the town to create a new comprehensive municipal plan and land use by-law.
“The current plan is outdated,” explained Kaeubler during the project launch at the Lunenburg Fire Hall. “Things around us change all the time. The municipal plan is an opportunity to realize what’s within your means to change.”
Kaeubler said the consultation and drafting process will take around two years to complete and will cover the gamut from health care to harbour health.
“After this launch event, we will be back between April and November for topic specific engagement activities. After that, we’ll write a new municipal plan,” he said.
Several boards and maps were set up around the space with room for the public to write down their thoughts.
Each board covered a specific topic and participants were given several red stickers that could be placed next to services to stress importance.
For example, many residents expressed their interest in seeing more seniors’ services developed in town.
When asked about managing expectations given the scope of a municipal plan, Kaeubler said it is a part of the job.
Town Councillor Matt Risser, chair of the steering committee overseeing the consultation process, expressed his excitement about beginning the project.
“I’m very optimistic because I think Lunenburg is a very engaged community. We have a lot of people who are very active in civic life and so I think we’ll do well,” he said.
Risser also stressed the importance of people taking the time to have their say.
“It’s designed to be very community driven. The decisions are squarely in the community’s wheelhouse,” he said, adding that people can voice their views online or at counselling sessions.
Speaking to participants at the event, each was hoping to see the town take a leadership role on several issues.
Although she lives in Chester, Nancy Green made the drive down to contribute to the discussion.
Green, who is a member of the South Shore Housing Action Coalition, said she wants the town to make more affordable housing available in Lunenburg.
“We’re hoping to see the town take some leadership on this and move forward,” she said.
Yashika, Brigesh and Sheetal Sally recently immigrated from India to Lunenburg over the last two years.
They said it has been a challenge to find both affordable housing and jobs in their fields since arriving.
“It’s very hard for immigrants to find good accommodations at reasonable rates. I want to emphasize that something needs to be done,” said Sheetal.
They explained that they have been looking for an apartment in town for over six months but have yet to find anything suitable.
Still, Brigesh said he was happy to see the town asking people to voice their needs; a sense of community is what originally drew him to Lunenburg in the first place.
“We heard good things about Nova Scotia and Canada,” he said. “We’re from a small village in India and wanted a similar feeling.”
More information about Project Lunenburg is available at https www.projectlunenburg.ca.