Black Diamond’s proposed Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) is heading to a public hearing next week.
The Dec. 7 hearing will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Black Diamond council chambers and will give people a chance to see and comment on the draft redevelopment plan, known as Bylaw 2022-16.
Representatives from Urban Systems, engineering and planning consultants for Black Diamond, gave the councils of Black Diamond and Turner Valley an update at October's joint council meeting about the proposed plan that has been developed over the past 14 months.
“The ARP provides a framework for future planning and development within downtown Black Diamond,” Leighton Ginther with Urban Systems told the councils.
The plan area focuses on Government Road and Centre Avenue and is bordered by First Avenue NW and SW, First Street SW and SE, and extends south to Fourth Avenue.
The vision for the redevelopment plan is to provide safe, desirable and enjoyable spaces for residents and visitors alike, Ginther said.
“What we're striving for is a downtown that is for people,” he said.
“Ultimately, that's what downtown is about, is accommodating people in a variety of ways.”
The plan focuses on six key areas: business health, public realm and pedestrian experience, transportation and movement, infrastructure, land use and design guidelines.
Planning manager Rod Ross also attended the October meeting. Ross said the area redevelopment plan was started in 2021 after Black Diamond annexed land in 2020.
“One concern (from the annexation) was that the opportunity for further commercial development on the periphery of town is developing close competition to our existing downtown,” he said.
“So, council wanted to ensure that there was a plan in place to keep our downtown strong and vibrant, and able to remain the focal point of the community when new commercial areas are developed.”
Public engagement has gone on throughout the process, including virtual workshops and an online survey held over the summer, and Black Diamond council gave the draft bylaw first reading on Nov. 2.
More information about the hearing and plan is available on Black Diamond’s website.
