By Gwen Merchant
Dryden is developing a land-use implementation, servicing and development strategy plan and it is no small matter, says Brad Johns, director of engineering and public works department.
The land-use implementation plan will be developed to identify potential development areas for commercial, residential or institutional use.
He says identifying the capacity requirements for the sewage and water plant, catching deficiencies in the systems, repairing water lines that should be four inches instead of six, is part of the plan.
In late-June, Johns was putting the finishing touches on a request for proposals (RFP) for a consultant and anticipates the RFP will be going out by the beginning of July.
The $380,000-plan will be very “detailed” and “extensive” and will take up to 18 months before the paper work is done.
Johns put together a pollution control plan in Thunder Bay that cost $450,000 and there were pages of recommendations that came out of the report.
He says they have to look at the present system as well, including sewer and water.
The city does not have a long-term development plan and Johns says it will benefit the prospective land purchasers to be able to see where they are heading. Johns’ plan will coincide with a new development strategy plan for the city.
“They are separate entirely,” says Jim Dayman, economic development manager. “But the two have to go hand in hand.”
Dayman says the first stop will be to go to council with the new development strategy plan. An airport study and new official-plan zoning bylaws have been done. A public consultation is also in the works, which will incorporate input from retailers and tourism operators.
“We want to see what the business citizens have for us,” Dayman says. “It’s a matter of putting heads together and coming up with what would work for the city.”
Two sectarian meetings on the strategic plan will be held; one this summer and one in October. A drafted document will be presented to council in December, and will be made public in January 2003.
Dayman notes Dryden has been fortunate, with steady and stable growth and development over the past several years.
Among the slate of developments for the city include: Weyerhaeuser’s air improvement project, the development of a new school and learning and cultural centre, Dryden Regional Health Centre reconstruction, an expansion to a home for the aged, retail expansion and highway construction.
“Three-hundred million dollars in new investment is slated for the next two years,” Dayman says.
For more than a decade Dryden has shown consistent growth as a regional centre for the provision of goods and services, servicing the needs of the broader area with a strong retail and service sector that is only growing, says Dayman.
The value of goods and services out of Dryden is about $50 million annually, with two out of every three dollars spent by non-residents.
New housing construction is also on an upswing. Historically, the number of new housing starts has remained relatively stable at about 25 annually, Dayman says. This year’s figures indicate numbers will continue on an upward trend peaking at about 50 new housing starts. Dayman attributes much of this increase to an increase in housing demand resulting from construction activity, as well as an aging population and turnover at Weyerhaueser, where employees who are retiring are remaining in the community.
Unlike many of the northern communities where property values have been on a decline, Dryden has seen values appreciate, he adds.
