The City of Nelson will start planning the development of Railtown in January at a meeting with a new by-invitation group of stakeholders that includes business owners, landowners, developers, local government, and community groups. The goal is a completed plan by September 2016, a deadline that city planner Pam Mierau says is crucial because if it is met, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities will pay half of the $45,000 planning costs.
Throughout the spring there will be a series of workshops for the stakeholder group to envision and design the neighbourhood. Modus Planning, Design and Engagement of Vancouver has been hired as the consultant to develop the plan.
Railtown includes the area between Cottonwood Falls Park and the CPR station.
Asked how this will be coordinated with the development of a plan for the Cottonwood Market stalls which appears to be on afaster track to be completed by spring, Mierau said the timing is perfect and the two plans will mesh well. She added that theWest Kootenay EcoSociety, which runs the market, will be part of the Railtown planning group.
Mierau said she is planning to start a website to track the progress of the Railtown plan and get public feedback on it.