The secret to success for communities is changing slowly.
Mayor Dave Augustyn said successful communities evolve while keeping the residents involved in the change.
In an interview looking ahead to a new term of council, the mayor touched on issues ranging from lessons learned during the recent municipal election campaign to the future of local housing and economic development.
The mayor said council can’t make changes quickly. It needs to decide on a course of action and take the time to do it. The four-year term gives it an advantage. It provides time to plan and to implement.
For example, if council announced a plan for 19 kilometres of sidewalks it would get a harsh reaction, he said.
But when people see the advantages of a stretch of sidewalk, they may ask for one in their area. The evolution then involves the community, he said.
During the election campaign, there was a call for more openness and transparency.
Augustyn said council has to take more time to explain its decisions within their context.
One involving the East Fonthill development, for example, is often part of a long-term project stretching over years, he said. It must show the greater context.
Part of town council’s strategic plan in the next term will involve retaining Pelham’s small-town feeling, he said.
It will include building designs and street layouts for new subdivisions that will enhance walkability and interconnected neighbourhoods.
It will tie in with events and festivals to bring the community together.
Residents will help design new facilities, such as the multi-purpose community centre and new Maple Acre library, to serve the needs of the town now and well into the future, the mayor said.
Young people, for example, want to live in communities in which they can move about easily, he said. They don’t want to be isolated along a highway.
Changes in provincial planning guidelines will affect housing patterns in the town.
Augustyn said density will increase to make better use of infrastructure and preserve agricultural land. It could see a greater mix of housing styles such as small homes and townhouses along with more residential units over commercial units. It will require closer planning for interconnected neighbourhoods.
Pelham will remain primarily a residential community. More than 90% of its assessment is now residential.
The mayor does foresee economic development in the form of home-based businesses evolving into larger operations within the town.
“Accipter Radar is the poster child for idea,” said the mayor about a Fonthill company that started in a basement and now serves major North American airports from its Highway 20 headquarters.
Such companies can attract related services and companies, Augustyn said.
For new housing and for economic development, fitting in with the small town community will remain a key factor, he said.
