Latest news with #ParksandRecreationMasterPlan
Hamilton Spectator
23-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Port Moody Council advances revised OCP draft, aiming for public hearing by fall
Port Moody's new official community plan (OCP) took a significant step forward on July 15, after provincial housing legislation delayed the process for 18 months. On Tuesday, Port Moody council voted 5-1 to advance a revised version of the draft first presented to council in December 2023 , now incorporating Bills 44, 46 and 47, and more than 24 new council and staff-endorsed strategies. Staff described the document as 'a living plan' that has been shaped by five years of public engagement. The revised OCP is expected to return for bylaw readings in September ahead of a public hearing in the fall. Coun. Diana Dilworth said the delay, while unfortunate, has resulted in a much-improved OCP. She noted that more than 4,000 forms of public input shaped the process – quadruple the engagement seen during the last OCP update. 'This is an incredibly well-informed document,' said Coun. Diana Dilworth. 'I think it's really important what's new and different: greater importance in this version on housing action, climate action, and action on Truth and Reconciliation. 'Staff have been listening to our residents. Council has been listening.' Key changes from the 2023 draft The most significant updates were driven by Bills 44, 46, and 47, passed in late 2023, which required municipalities to permit small-scale multi-unit housing (SSMUH), meet minimum densities in transit-oriented areas (TOAs), and align land use plans with updated housing needs reports. In response, the OCP process was paused in 2024 and resumed with these legislative obligations incorporated throughout the document. As a result, the 2025 draft introduces new land use designations – including low-density residential, multi-residential three-storey and six-storey, and urban industrial. These additions replace the broader categories used in 2023 and clarify where new forms of housing will be permitted under provincial law. Public hearing requirements are also updated to reflect the new legislative framework. Notably, the Moody Centre and Inlet Centre neighbourhood plans have been restructured to reflect the province's new Transit-Oriented Area (TOA) designation. Height caps included in the 2023 draft were removed to avoid conflicting with the province's minimum density requirements. While the 2023 draft emphasized climate resilience, the 2025 version sharpened the focus. The OCP now sets a target to increase protected natural space from 38.5 percent to 48.7 percent – a metric previously absent. The plan also incorporates recent strategies such as the Urban Forest Management Strategy , with new policies requiring inventories of existing trees before development, and climate-adapted tree species in both public and private spaces. Wildlife policies now reference international lighting standards and the city's bat-friendly certification. The 2023 draft referenced the 2015 Parks and Recreation Master Plan, but the 2025 update integrates findings from several new studies, including the Rocky Point Park and Old Orchard Park master plans and the Parkland Strategy. Objectives are now organized under six policy areas, ranging from marine protection to inclusive park access. One new policy supports pursuing marine protected status for the city's mudflats. The 2025 draft places greater emphasis on Indigenous relations and accessibility. Truth and Reconciliation policies are now the first listed objective and include commitments to formalize engagement frameworks aligned with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. New policies call for accessible design in both public and private spaces and discourage hostile architecture. Childcare is now identified as a priority for future developer fees, and food security policies have been updated to support the Tri-Cities Food Council. The 2025 draft introduces more detailed, hierarchical policy structures, particularly in Moody Centre and Inlet Centre. New special study areas signal future redevelopment zones, and provide clearer expectations for public amenities, mobility, and open space. One such study area is east of Balmoral Drive in Coronation Park, while another is south of St. Johns Street, the latter of which will include a future neighbourhood plan. The Murray Street Boulevard has been designated as an urban industrial zone. The Seaview neighbourhood plan also saw notable changes: eight areas are now proposed for rezoning to allow townhomes and six-storey apartments, alongside new commercial nodes and environmental protections. Disagreement over public vision While several councillors praised staff and the depth of public engagement, one councillor questioned whether the latest version truly reflects what residents want. Coun. Haven Lurbiecki, who cast the lone opposing vote, said the level of densification ultimately reflects council's vision. She argued the OCP had strayed from public sentiment expressed in past engagements . 'Residents of Port Moody do not want to see overdevelopment. Instead, they want to see moderate growth and the no wall of towers they were promised,' Lurbiecki said. 'Yet this OCP, if implemented, will result in extreme levels of growth, walls of towers, and such a dramatic change to our beloved city . . . it's honestly hard to comprehend.' She criticized the decision to consider first and second readings in the same meeting in September, and claimed the council had altered how OCP engagements have been conducted for decades. Mayor Meghan Lahti disagreed, arguing the OCP represents a thoughtful and well-balanced approach to growth that reflects both professional planning standards and community values. 'We need to understand that the document that is guiding this . . . was put together to make sure we are not creating a wall of towers,' she said. 'We are taking on growth – there's no question about it. It's how we do it that matters.' She acknowledged the importance of clearly communicating where building heights may increase but emphasized that the plan was about more than towers. 'This document reflects the community's goals around being a carbon-neutral community, a friendly, walkable, healthy, green community,' she said. Coun. Samantha Agtarap emphasized council had not given prior direction on the OCP's vision, pushing back on suggestions that it reflected predetermined political will. As the plan advances to bylaw form, council members expressed hope that more public feedback would come in. Coun. Kyla Knowles noted the city had already heard some over specific land parcels. 'This is just the beginning,' Knowles said. 'While OCPs can be changed and amended and are considered living documents, I think it's best if we can make everyone as happy as possible before the final version is approved.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Albemarle City Manager to retire after 35 years of local service, 1 year with city
ALBEMARLE, N.C. () — Albemarle City Manager Todd Clark is announcing his intent to retire in August 2025. Clark became the city manager in August 2024. In total, he has served 35 years in local government, including two years as the town manager of Beaufort, fifteen years as the city manager of Newton, three years as the town manager of Maiden and four years as the town manager of Catawba. 'I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve the City of Albemarle,' said Clark. 'I've truly enjoyed building relationships with the people of our community, City staff, and our elected officials. After 35 years in local government, I'm now looking forward to spending more time with my wife, Jane, who recently retired from her career as an educator. Albemarle and Stanly County will always hold a special place in our hearts.' Charlotte leader calls for probe into leaked information from council's closed session In this role, Clark has overseen the day-to-day operations of the City of Albemarle, including services like electric, water, wastewater, landfills and public housing as well as parks and recreation and the police and fire departments. During Clark's tenure, the City finished the infrastructure installation for the new Albemarle Business Center, began to develop a new Comprehensive Land Use Plan (Envision Albemarle 2045) and created a new Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Clark also continued the work on the City's award-winning Strategic Plan. Mayor Ronnie Michael said, 'On behalf of City Council and our citizens, I thank Todd for his leadership in our City. Todd has done a remarkable job balancing the immense responsibilities of City operations. His professionalism and vision for making local government the best it can be are deeply appreciated. We wish him the very best in his retirement.' Clark has been an active member of both the North Carolina City & County Management Association and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). In 2020, Clark was recognized by the ICMA for 30 years of distinguished service in local government. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
23-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Cleveland inches up annual parks rankings
Cleveland is now the 30th best park city in the country, a new ranking finds. Why it matters: City parks serve as community meeting spots and civic spaces, offer room for exercise and fresh air, and can draw in new residents. Driving the news: The ranking is from the 2025 ParkScore index, an annual list from the Trust for Public Land (TPL), a pro-park nonprofit. The report ranks the 100 most populous U.S. cities' park systems based on five categories: acreage, access, amenities, investment and equity. By the numbers: Cleveland moves up one ranking spot from last year and remains in the top third, but has fallen from its highest ranking (23rd, in 2022). Zoom in: Just like last year, Cleveland earned high marks for access — 88% of city residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park — and for amenities like basketball courts, splash pads and recreation centers. Yes, but: Cleveland still falls well below the national average in park acreage, both in median park size and park land as a percent of total city area. 🚾 Stat du jour: Cleveland also scored poorly in public bathrooms, with only 0.8 per 10,000 residents. Earlier this month, the Cleveland Planning Commission formally adopted the city's Parks and Recreation Master Plan, drafted with community input to steer policies and funding for decades to come. Zoom out: Washington, D.C., once again took top honors in the ParkScore rankings with a total of 85.5 points, thanks in part to big access and investment scores. Irvine, California, came in second, while Minneapolis ranked third. Stunning stats: Among the cities analyzed, $12.2 billion was invested in park and recreation systems in 2024, while 76% of residents now live within a 10-minute walk of a park. Those are both records since TPL started tracking such figures in 2007 and 2012, respectively.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Shopper Blog: City seeks input as it updates Play Knoxville, its Parks and Recreation Master Plan
NORTH KNOXVILLE Jack Coker, Shopper News The public engagement phase for Play Knoxville, the city's Parks and Recreation Master Plan, is officially underway. This plan will guide investments in parks, greenways, community centers and recreational programming for the next decade. It's been over 15 years since Knoxville last updated its Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and with the city's population growing by nearly 10,000 residents in the last five years, now is the time to ensure outdoor spaces keep pace with community needs. The planning process kicked off in January with a steering committee of community leaders. Since then, city staff and consultants from Perez Planning + Design have been hard at work, conducting dozens of focus groups, meeting with Knoxville City Council and community leaders, and visiting nearly 70 parks across Knoxville to assess conditions. Now they're asking for feedback from the people who use these spaces the most: Knoxville residents. Over the coming weeks, community members will have multiple opportunities to provide input, including attending neighborhood meetings, engaging on social media and sharing their thoughts via an online survey. The city has also launched an interactive mapping tool where residents can pinpoint specific locations and suggest improvements. The Play Knoxville website, is live and serves as a hub for community engagement. Residents can take the 15–20-minute survey, which is modeled after similar planning efforts in cities like Atlanta, Louisville and Miami, to help identify priorities for Knoxville's parks and recreation system. A Parks and Recreation Master Plan is more than just a list of future projects — it's a roadmap for how Knoxville will develop and maintain its parks, programs and facilities for years to come. The plan will identify current needs, anticipate future demand and provide a phased approach to implementation over the next decade. Short-term projects (one to three years), mid-term goals (four to six years) and long-term initiatives (seven to 10 years) will be outlined to ensure strategic, sustainable improvements across the city. Beyond enhancing recreation opportunities, this plan is also a critical tool for securing funding. Historically, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation required that local departments update their master plans every five years to guide state funding allocations. While TDEC is revising its approach, Knoxville's renewed focus on parks planning aligns with broader city initiatives, including the Greenway Corridor Feasibility and Assessment Study, the Urban Forest Master Plan and the One Year Plan. Parks are more than just green spaces; they're places where communities connect, children play and Knoxville's character shines. If you have ideas for improving your neighborhood park or expanding recreational opportunities across the city, now is the time to make your voice heard. Visit to take the survey, drop a pin on the map and get involved in shaping the future of Knoxville's parks and recreation system. Your input today will help create the parks of tomorrow. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Shopper News brings you the latest happenings in your community
