Project Lunenburg: housing workshop space to discuss availability

The Town of Lunenburg is hosting a housing workshop on April 24, the latest in their ongoing community consultation process.

The workshop, which is a part of Project Lunenburg, will take place at the Lunenburg Fire Hall; the doors open at 6 p.m.

“Lunenburg has been growing in profile and has become a very high demand area to live,” said Town Councillor Matt Risser, who is also chair of the project’s steering committee.

“It’s just as much about availability as affordability.”

The workshop is just one of several planned for Project Lunenburg, which is asking the community to help map out the town’s future.

Risser added that each month will cover a specific topic throughout the consultation process; the end result of all the public input will be a new comprehensive municipal plan and land use by-law.

Steffen Kaeubler, project manager for the UPLAND consulting team, previously told the South Shore Breaker that the plan will take two years to complete

And affordable housing is a topic that’s been highly polarizing in town.

“We sort of know what to expect,” said Risser, adding that the there’s been a lot of conversation about availability.

As per the Project Lunenburg website, many have already voiced their concerns over housing options.

“There is an increasing worry about the capacity of the town to be a viable place to live for young people, low income households and seniors,” summarized the project’s website in an update in March.

In preparation for the workshop, UPLAND has put together a case paper to provide a snapshot of the town’s housing market.

Risser urged people to consult the case paper and to come out to voice their opinions.

“There’s no substitute for real public engagement,” he said.

And so far, community members have done a good job of making their concerns known.

Risser said people have been checking out the project’s website as well as completing the

Project Lunenburg website online survey.

“We’ve had some really strong engagement so far. We’re hoping to sustain that momentum,” said Risser.

More information is available at www.projectlunenburg.ca.