- If you were the Mayor with a magic wand, what would you like Huntsville to be like in 20-30 years time? Please provide examples of other Towns.
- What would you like the priorities to be for the Town over the next 3-5 years?
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16 comments:
With the pending applications for urban intensification, especially for seniors wishing to live out their final years in the urban, downtown core, and given that the community has already invested highly in the downtown area with the the theatre and River Mill Park I would like to see consideration given to the development of a seniors centre incorporating both Club 55 and the Centennial Seniors into a new Seniors Centre that would provide services specifically meeting their needs. Further to that I think the 'proposed condo-land' in the River Mill Park area should instead be considered as the location of a new senior centre. There is available parking, close to the water front making it a lovely spot to congregate.
Our neighbour to the south, Gravenhurst has already recognized this need and have provided an excellant facility for their seniors. Huntsville has been recognized as being generally ahead of the pack province wide and a leader in senior activity. We need to keep that pace.
Mike Greaves
Brunel Ward Councilor
Mikey
Vey interesting and provocative new idea
Claude
A number of responses have, correctly, underscored the "Boomer" impact on our society. No plan that is to address the future can afford to ignore this critical factor. This population surge and its cohorts (the Bust and Echo generations) will dicate what is to come and any contrary ideas (eg. "Let other towns address the demands of seniors" are doomed to fail.
In the 60's we were "surprised" by the huge increase in demand for higher education (which the young, huge boomer generation then required). In the early 90's we were "surprised" by the incredible drop in house prices (which happened after the wave of boomers had bought their first homes). In the 90's we were "surprised" by the huge increase in financial investing (which the middle-age boomers were making as they began to contemplate their retirement futures). In the past few years we were "surprised" by the huge increase in recreational property prices (as the successful boomer generation had amassed sufficient funds for acquisition of cottages). Well, let's not be "surprised" that the demands for massive improvements in heath care facilities services (especially for age-related issues) are increasing, as are demands for retirement and nursing home facilities. Let's not be surprised that aging boomers are interested in relocating from rat-raced cities and buying into full-time residential and/or seasonal residential areas that offer important commercial, cultural and artistic amenities but also a residential environment that is more relaxed, closer to nature, etc. Let's not be "surprised" to find out that this large group of financially well-off boomers are a fussy bunch because they can afford to be, have a history of being so, have a huge ecoomic impact, and will only migrate to areas which offer them what they need and want.
So, let's not focus on short-term, small potatoes. If a new ice pad will attract morer Winter tourism and income, great. Go for it! It will help foster a local economy that will not be dependent on Summer-only tourism. But let's look far beyond that to address what we need for the next 20 years. Initially, the Boomers will dictate where we must go. Their needs will, cooincidentally and thankfully, give rise to an increased focus on the needs of the younger element of our society. We are short of young workers, such as medical specialists but, just as important, tradespeople. There is currently a natural lack of young talent (the "Bust" generation are a small group). We need to attract such people to Huntsville and we need to have good educational facilities to train the subsequent group of youngsters (the "Echo" group). Let's not be short-sighted and focus our educational thrust onto mere tourism programs, hotel management, sports training, etc. That just ties us even more to dependency on tourism. If we don't get past this tourism limitation/focus, we will stagnate. Of course, some people may prefer that we not expand but remain a "nice, quiet small town in cottage country." I can understand that romantic desire but I fear the consequences of adopting that as a long-range goal.
Twenty years from now, when theTown looks once more to the future, the situation will be totally different. The Boomers will be dying off and their impact on society will be waning. A brand new approach to the future will then be required. But it will still be necessary to be totally conversant with demography if we are to make the right decisions.
Whatever development or planning comes about as a result of this New Community Master Plan, the Town should be diligent in making sure that "Universal" Design is employed. While the Town has committed to the use of this design in its Official Plan, consider this comment to be a gentle reminder.
Debbie Kirwin
Long term I would like to see Huntsville as a thriving, fit and green community. Huntsville's natural environmental beauty needs to be a core part of this vision.
I believe we need to take local action on climate change. We need to reduce greenhouse gases and improve the sustainability of Huntsville.To do this we need a plan.Call it an Action Plan, Green Plan or whatever you like.To develop this plan we need the strong support of our local leadership who would adopt this work as a stategic priority within the Master Plan, and an Environment/Sustainability Coordinator, with the appropriate level of expertise, deicated fulltime to make it happen.
I can see Huntsville serving as a role model for creating a sustainable community. Council would give environmental consideration to all economic, social and development planning.Our "green capital", lakes,forests, wetlands. goundwater etc. would be protected and Ecotourism would emerge to compliment our existing tourism."Quality of place"- a clean environment, abundant recreational opportunities and diverse lifestyle amenities- will attract and retain economic development and the best talent.
Post secondary studies would include Environmental Studies, Outdoor Education, Organic Agriculture, Landscape Design and many others and our natural landscape will be the labratory.
This is the tip of the green iceberg.
For examples of other municipalities that are taking action visithttp://sustainablecommunities.fcm.ca/Partners-for-Climate-Protection/
First I want to thank council for the opportunity to play “Mayor with a magic wand”.
If I were Mayor, I would like to see the town of Huntsville go beyond the official plan and put together a simple framework that will help align town operations, and really get everyone working from the same playbook.
To help clarify what I mean, I will use excerpts from a program that helps communities plan for the future. It’s called The Natural Step http://www.naturalstep.ca
“Un-sustainability is the largest risk facing any organization today, but few communities and businesses are planning for it in a strategic way.
Numerous municipal initiatives have emerged to address sustainability… often, however, there is no clear understanding of whether the initiative is actually moving the community towards sustainability; whether it is simply trading off one unsustainable practice for another; whether one community organization or department is working at cross purposes with another; how to deal with apparent tradeoffs between environmental, social or economic objectives… So communities can get caught up in debates and arguments rooted in different interpretations of sustainability and different ideas about the priorities for achieving it.
The Natural Step provides a clear, compelling, science-based definition of sustainability and a practical strategic planning framework to help communities and organizations make smart economic decisions to move them step-by-step towards a successful and sustainable future. [The Natural Step's] planning framework is rooted in systems thinking. It helps [communities] understand how [their] daily decisions impact the larger system in which we all live.”
The town of Whistler is a good example of a town that adopted the Natural Step with great results (2007- Won Green City Award by the Premier of BC, $500, 000 reward). Whistler has many similarities to the Town of Huntsville; population, pressure for development, increase in residents during certain seasons, and many more.
Copy and paste this YouTube link in your browser to view a 10 minute video about Whistler’s journey to a sustainable future
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rH1hQunLfQ
or go to Whistler’s website to read more
http://www.whistler2020.ca
With an approach like this, Huntsville can be a Leader in Ontario in sustainable practices. That will certainly be good for the ECONOMY!!
I’m not saying we should sign up for this program necessarily, but I think that they have the right idea.
Steve Abouldahab
I am a 13 year old and a concerned citizen of Huntsville. I feel that Huntsville could use a go cart track for kids and adults.
And I would kind of like a Burger King here in Huntsville. And I heard of an old bike trail by the tracks
and I thought if we were to get to the skate park. You should open that up again with a fence high
enough that kids can’t climb. It would make the crossing a lot safer.
I’m a 13 year old teenager in Huntsville Public School. I have been living here all my life and I would really appreciate it if you would leave everything the way it is, please. Due to the development of new stores, buildings, and restaurants, we are losing the best part of Huntsville, which is the wilderness. I know you probably don’t care, but as a student and a young adult, I do. So please save Huntsville from becoming a small city, and stop building new buildings.
Hello Mayor, I think Huntsville should have mini golf and Burger King.
Hello my name is Jocelyn R. and I am a grade 8 student in Huntsville. To attract more people to the town, add a bigger and better MOVIE THEATRE. Our theatre in Huntsville is not very good. Nobody ever wants to go there anymore. People are driving the 15 minute drive to Bracebridge to watch the exact same movie that is in our theatre. We want to attract people to our town do we not. We can get more tourists to be telling other people to come to our town and see our wonderful theatre. So let’s do that. Make people want to go to our movie theatre. Can we please start making a plan to go towards a new movie theatre. Thank you for your time.
Hi my name is Nicole P. and I am a grade 8 student at H.P.S. In a few years time I would like the town of Huntsville to have really good stores but not turn into a huge city like Orillia, and Barrie because I like the country part of Huntsville as well because it is so quiet and peaceful.
Hello, my name is Rebecca. I am in grade 8 and I go to Huntsville Public School. I think Huntsville should build a youth center where kids can go and make friends while still being active. The youth center should have stuff like a rock climbing wall, an indoor track, a big gymnasium, something like the new Bracebridge high school.
These comments were submitted by Doug & Dorrie Millikin P1H 1Z1
This blog is a great idea. It is very well setup to add comments on ideas already posted but would suggest there be added an entry spot to introduce NEW items such as our item below.
HIGHWAY 11 – CONTROLLED ACCESS
– is also a Splendid Scenic Touring Route
The divided highway sections of Queen’s Highway 11 four lanes north from Gravenhurst, through Huntsville to North Bay are a delight to drive. The engineers have created truly works of art, almost architectural, that enhance the rock cuts of our granite hills and their forested ridgelines during all four of our beautiful seasons. It certainly has added to the pleasure of living in and/or driving through our area town of Huntsville.
Our vision for our town is to protect such visions for the future. Urban blight like the industrial zone around Orillia should be left in Simcoe County. Our zoning by-laws should restrain commercial urban blight from spreading along this corridor by restricting its spread and/or requiring plantation buffers and setbacks to remove any impact. If necessary the Town should, along this corridor, void any highway commercial zoning.
The Town of Bracebridge was doing an excellent job of retaining a forest screen with the addition of Home Depot, but unfortunately, with their addition of Wal-Mart they have breeched that screen. In Huntsville, other than on those frosty winter days when they have their cloud-making equipment in operation, the large industries of Kimberly-Clark and Panolam are neatly tucked away so that they are not in a driver’s face. We should all strive to minimize commercial urban exposure , with the interchanges being the only exception, along this Controlled Highway corridor.
The ultimate ideal, of course, would be to treat this corridor in a similar manner to the way Algonquin Park treats canoe routes where they impose lateral zones of concern restricting logging activities.
May we also urge the “powers-that-be” to renew their pledge of allegiance to the protection of our ridgelines. These are a significant part of what makes living here so special. Yet, as each year goes by some of these ridgelines – especially going east on Hwy 60 are looking slightly tattered – even moth-eaten. Surely the Town can ensure that they have some control over the destiny of these ridgelines.
P.S. Cement plants would be best off - away from the highway view - preferably out of view in locations such as old gravel pits with truck access via well designed interchanges with adequate acceleration lanes.
My name is Jasmyne and I'm a grade 7 student from Huntsville.
In 20-30 years I would like the town to be clean and healthy. Some things to change that would be people to pick up the garbage, more recycling bins around town, and plant some more trees and plants. I would also like the mall to be bigger so it will attract more people. If the mall was bigger then people would stay here to shop instead of travelling to other places, such as North Bay or Barrie. I would also like the beaches to be cleaner. If they were cleaner then people wouldn’t get sick from pollution and the water would be healthier.
In the next 3-5 years I would like the town to be cleaner and there to be fewer crimes. I would also like there to be more events and a bigger arena with a weight room and a running track and a bigger pool. If there was a bigger arena then people would go there to workout and they would be healthier. It would also take people off the streets and give them more to do.
Hi Mayor Doughty and council,
thanks for this great opportunity to express concern and offer creative solutions. As a potential new resident of Huntsville, and further to the e-mail I sent you I'd like to share my specific idea of putting Huntsville on the map of responsible "eco" living, setting an example for neighbouring communities and educating the public about cost-benefit figures from implementing "eco-house" modifications.
Any new developments proposed by builders should include AT LEAST one model home that showcases green living by showing things such as:
1. radiant floor heating (water pipes in poured concrete)
2. solar panels
3. options to install a wind mill to create energy
4. use of sky lights to promote energy savings and prevent SAD
5. use of natural materials such as cork flooring
6. use of geothermal heating
This way people from all around can come to look and maybe they will choose one or all of these options to responsibly "upgrade" their houses... never mind the fancy backsplashes etc...
I am adding my little voice to the others in hopes that we can make a difference to keep our beautiful nature beautiful.
Catherine Zacal
p.s. please keep the spring time Algonquin park clean up going, it's a great way to promote being kind to nature
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