The Town of Lake Cowichan is getting ready to launch “Creating our Future”, and they want “30 good people” to help them out.
The town’s official community plan is showing its age, and the municipality is getting ready to put together a new one. Key to that effort, according to Advisory Planning Commission chairman Les Bowd, is having as many people in town as possible involved.
“We’re going to beat the bushes,” Bowd said, hoping to have 30 people signed up for the three principle working groups by Christmas, with the process starting in January. If you have even a glimmer of interest, he said, you should contact the Town of Lake Cowichan and get your name on the list of possible participants.
“This is the opportunity to shape the future of the community,” he urged.
It’s not an endeavour for the faint of heart, he said, with the goal to be completing a new OCP in record time.
“We’re going to try to pull it off in 18 months,” Bowd said.
For the new document to meet with success and the approval of the public, he said it’s vital that it be citizen-driven, not dictated by staff or officials. He believes there’s a lot of untapped skill in town, with many new residents who have come to town not just to retire, but with a commitment to making the community an even more thriving place to live.
The three working groups will deal with the built environment, the natural environment and the social environment, with some crossover. If any of those areas interest you, even it it’s just to voice what you feel isn’t working with the current OCP, you should take a look at taking part.