Mission downtown planning process starts Nov. 15
It's time to share your thoughts and help shape downtown Mission.
One of the first opportunities to lend your opinion on what should happen during the revitalization of the area takes place Nov. 15 in the Leisure Centre auditorium.
The 3.5-hour event starts with an open house which runs from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., said Sharon Fletcher, director of long-term planning and special projects, and residents can speak with the consultants, HBLanarc, hired to create the plan, and review the storyboards and other materials.
The next portion of the evening is a 30-minute presentation from the consulting team, titled "What makes a great downtown," rounded out by an audience participation-style workshop from 7 to 9 p.m.
"This is open to anyone," said Fletcher, and will allow people to consider the vision statement and identify concerns.
To encourage participation, the district is rolling out a series of strategies to communicate with residents.
A mass e-mail list (downtown@mission.ca) has been compiled and receivers can suggest people to add, or forward the message, and the receiver can request to be included in future disseminations. This e-mail can also be used to send suggestions and feedback to consultants.
More City Page ads will be produced, and storyboards depicting aspects of the plan will be set up at Mission Library, Leisure Centre, and municipal hall lobby.
Starting Nov. 13, the district has also leased space in the Community Policing Office, and will have staff on site Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon to speak with residents about the proposed plan.
Additionally, a two-day planning charrette is slated for January. The first day is for downtown stakeholders such as owners, leasees and politicians, while the second day is a two-hour public open house.
"The downtown is the city's public living room," said Fletcher, and everyone should make the effort to be involved.
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