The City of Grande Prairie has begun a strategic planning process to update its Municipal Development Plan and residents have opportunities to provide input through a newspaper and online survey as well as upcoming open houses.

“The updated plan will guide Council’s decision making on future growth and development within our City,” says Planning Manager Michael MacIntyre. “We are involving residents and business owners at the start of this important planning process to gather ideas on how the City should grow in the future.”

The survey will be available on the City Page of Friday’s Daily Herald-Tribune and online at /survey/takeSurvey.asp?surveyID=30

Responses are requested by July 11.

The City of Grande Prairie, together with Lovatt Planning Consultants and ISL Engineering and Land Services, have initiated the plan update to respond to unprecedented growth and projected increases in our population.

In the last 20 years, Grande Prairie’s population has doubled with 30 per cent of the growth occurring in the past five years. The City’s now has 50,227 residents.

“This year is also a key milestone in the development of our community as we celebrate our 50^th anniversary as a City,” says Mayor Dwight Logan. “I encourage residents to get involved in this initiative to help shape Grande Prairie’s future.”

In addition to the survey, there will be group discussions and public information sessions this fall. Project representative John Turnbull of ISL Engineering and Land Services can also be contacted, toll free, at 1-877-838-9001, via fax at 780-438-3700 or by emailing jturnbull@islengineering.com

The survey asks respondents to cite what they would not want to see changed in Grande Prairie. They are also requested to list concerns about the way their community is developing.  There are questions about what types of developments residents would like to see in new neighbourhoods and the kind of redevelopment they prefer in existing residential areas.