CBC News
Winnipeggers are being asked to help form the city's longterm plans by commenting on a policy draft document called Our Winnipeg.Winnipeggers are being asked to help form the city's longterm plans by commenting on a policy draft document called Our Winnipeg. (CBC)
The City of Winnipeg's blueprint for the next 25 years predicts an influx of residents but a shortage of land for them to build homes.
The policy document, Our Winnipeg, describes how the city should grow and develop physically, socially, environmentally, and economically over the next quarter century, covering everything from industrial and residential land to transportation and sustainability.
Mayor Sam Katz released the draft document Wednesday, calling it a broad policy statement on the city's future.
But it's more like a guess at where the city is heading, based upon trends as viewed from 2010.
It predicts that by 2031 there will be 180,000 new residents in the city, pushing the population close to 900,000. However, it also estimates the city has just 13 years worth of land left for residential development.
It says neighbourhoods should be diverse, that water and waste services must be secure, safe and clean, and that the transportation system should promote an active lifestyle.
First draft
This is the first draft of the document, which was assembled from feedback provided to SpeakUpWinnipeg.com, a website launched in April 2009, to provide people an opportunity to post comments, participate in polls, share videos of their vision for the city's future.
There were more than five million hits to the website and direct input from over 42,000 Winnipeggers.'The Our Winnipeg process is all about actively engaging the people who live here in planning our future.'—Mayor Sam Katz
The site also serves as a way for the city to share its research and to report back to its citizens.
Now, the city is asking for comments regarding the draft, both on the website and in six public information sessions to be held from May 27 to June 3. The input will be compiled into a report that will accompany the final version of Our Winnipeg through the bylaw and public hearing processes down the road.
“The Our Winnipeg process is all about actively engaging the people who live here in planning our future,” said Katz.
“We all want a city defined by its sustainability, opportunity, and sense of community pride. The best way to achieve these things is to work collaboratively with Winnipeggers and that’s just what we’ve being doing in developing this civic plan.”
The draft document cost $3.2 million to put together. Half the cost was covered by the province, the other half by the city.
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