The District of Lantzville officially has an economic development plan.
Lantzville councillors voted in 4-3 favour of adopting an economic development strategic plan at a council meeting last week.
The economic development plan was created by EcoPlan, a Vancouver-based company that specializes in planning and engagement. EcoPlan, which has worked with numerous other municipalities in B.C. and around the world, was hired by district councillors last year in an effort to revitalize the community’s economy.
Dubbed Lantzville, Beyond Business As Usual, the economic development plan identifies five key areas described as village core revitalization, business development, housing, transportation and infrastructure and quality of life and tourism.
Prior to councillor’s approval, Colleen Hamilton, a planning associate with EcoPlan, presented the plan, explaining that her company spent months of working with the community, stakeholders and holding various public consultation.
“We really focused on participatory planning, so that is making sure that we get out and talk to people in the community and find locally based solutions that are based on research and solid analysis,” she said.
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The economic plan made a number of recommendations including creating a public plaza near municipal hall, beautifying the village core by adding more trees, making use of vacant space and implementing policies to encourage businesses to be in the village core.
It also recommended the district create a business association in Lantzville, improve its website, implement business licences, hire an economic development officer, pursue various grants, update the official community plan to encourage unique independent businesses instead of big box chains, and work with nearby communities such as Snaw-Naw-As First Nation and the City of Nanaimo.
“There is little to no economic collaboration within the region … when regions are working together, they are more likely to see economic development and they are able to access more funding and things like that,” Hamilton said.
At the end of the day, Hamilton explained that while there are a number of recommendations and implementation strategies within the plan because there is “no silver bullet” that will achieve Lantzville’s economic goals.
“If you look at the plan, there are a number of small things that will collectively have an impact, but there is not going to be a big company that comes here and hires everybody,” she said.
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Hamilton said after months of consulting with residents, businesses, stakeholders etc, her team has come up with five key items that would help improve #Lantzville economically. pic.twitter.com/hEWVHtxzN0
— Nicholas M Pescod (@npescod) September 18, 2018
Coun. Bob Colclough said when it comes to economic development, Lantzville is a challenging position because it is a small community with very limited funds and a tiny tax base. He said he is supportive of the plan because it will get the message ou” that Lantzville is open for business.
“All we can do is put the welcome mat out, present the information, so when they come in to look at Lantzville they will see what we’ve got …. otherwise they are going to come through and look around and see nothing and carry on,” he said.
Coun. Dot Neary said she was impressed with EcoPlan and the plan that was put together. She said the document itself was very easy to read and not overly complicated, adding that she also appreciates the plan’s framework.
“This issue has not been tackled in this comprehensive manner, I don’t think, either for a very long time or at all, so I am really impressed with what has been produced … I think it remains to be seen how it unfolds, but I love the quick wins. You go for the low-hanging fruit if you can in order to make some gains early in the game,” she said.
However, Coun. John Coulson said the economic plan lacks a “reality filter” and felt there was a lot of important information missing from it.
“There is a lot of math in economics and I would like to see that,” he said. “In terms of growth happening, define what that is. We can’t get a pulp mill to Lantzville but there might be some other things,” he said, adding that he would also like to see a better explaining of what businesses Lantzville could realistically attract.
Lantzville Mayor Colin Haime said while he appreciated the plan, he felt many of the initiatives within the plan rely too heavily on grant funding. He said the plan also doesn’t consider that Lantzville’s strengths are shared by other communities on the Island.
“A lot of the things that we view as strengths in our community, would apply to every small community on eastern Vancouver Island…” he said. “So somehow we have to differentiate ourselves.”
Mayor Haime, Coun. Denise Haime and Coulson voted against adopting the plan.
nicholas.pescod@nanaimobulletin.com Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram
