Over 60 people filed through the student gathering area at École Innisfail Middle School last week to view the proposed plans for next year’s redevelopment of the downtown core.
Craig Teal, director of planning and development with the Town of Innisfail, said the turnout at the Dec. 1 open house was comparable to the first open house, held at the Ol’ Moose Hall in May.
“It’s a good number,” he said. “We’d like to see more people attend, of course, and take an interest but we didn’t have a ballpark or target set for that (meeting).”
Those who attended the open house were able to view 29 displays on the project: eight on the area development plan, six on the strategic action plan, three on the streetscape themes, eight on the 50 Street redevelopment concept, one on cost and funding, and three on construction management. There was also a video showing a fly-through of the three different streetscape themes.
Innisfail mayor Jim Romane said he was pleased with the turnout.
“It’s been steady. We’ve seen a pretty good cross-section of people,” he said midway through the evening. “We’ve got some interesting comments – that’s what we’re looking for.”
Teal said a number of people seemed to like the overall intent of the reconstruction, while others raised concerns with issues including on-street parking, additional parking and the possibility of making a portion of 50 Street one-way.
“There were some likes and some dislikes,” he said, noting that another issue that was raised was the new trees blocking storefronts.
“We certainly did hear that through the course of the evening. I expect to see that on some of the comment sheets as well.”
Studio Arts’ Carol Smith was one of those to raise concerns with the trees, which she said would limit people’s ability to view the storefronts.
“I feel there are far too many trees,” Smith said. “It looks like a raceway … I don’t like it. I’m not happy.”
Romane said many business owners in attendance requested the town take a different look at the redevelopment. He said he was confident those comments would be taken into account when the revitalization and redevelopment steering committee meets to finalize the plans.
“Those things can be worked out,” said Romane. “That’s why we did this – (to) get the people out and look at because right now it’s only conceptual to some degree.”
The steering committee hopes to hold a brief meeting before Christmas to discuss the open house findings, Teal said, adding that process will probably not be completed until early in the new year.
All the material on the downtown redevelopment is currently on display on the town’s website, www.townofinnisfail.com, and Teal encouraged those who were unable to make the open house to still have their say.
“The opportunity is still there to comment.”
