Local business owners are still in discussion with the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake staff and council regarding the proposed downtown core redevelopment plans.
To date community members and local business owners have attended four meetings with village officials to discuss issues in relation to the proposed downtown core redevelopment.
During May of 2010, Michael Skene, president of the Boulevard Transportation Group and Victoria based architect Franc D'Ambrosio, from D'Ambrosio Architecture + Urbanism presented the results of an extensive study on recommended downtown core upgrades to council.
The active transportation plan, prepared by Boulevard Transportation Group was prepared to provide guidelines on how best to move traffic and pedestrians around the town, attract new businesses and stimulate a sense of local community pride.
Skene said, 鈥淲e took a dispassionate outsiders view on what the village looks like to a visitor."
A design plan was also presented at the meeting which has caused considerable discussion amongst the local business community since then.
The design included closing off access to Hwy. 16 on Gilgan Avenue near the New Leaf Cafe, putting a roundabout to connect Third Avenue, Government Street and Gilgan Avenue and closing off Government Street near the Canada Post office to through traffic, instead adding parking bays.
A number of business owners expressed their concerns to village officials regarding the plans as well as the perceived impact the plans will have on customer traffic in their stores.
Business owners formed a group in order to discuss their concerns before bringing them up to council however, during a meeting between village officials and the group Coun. Eileen Benedict said she was concerned about small sub groups forming within the village.
In response, local business owner Gwendolyn Nicholas said the group formed in order to discuss community and business issues due to the confusion and miscommunication that has stemmed from larger committees.
Mayor Bernice Magee urged the business community to communicate their concerns with the 亚洲天堂 Lake and District Chamber of Commerce.
Nicholas said that many business owners have come to her expressing their concerns about the chamber.
She went on to say that business owners feel the chamber is not beneficial to most of the local businesses and businesses also feel that chamber memberships are too expensive. She said that she feels the chamber is mismanaged and does not provide any support to local businesses.
Proposal writer Lori Reimer from Lakes Economic Development Association and 亚洲天堂 Lake and District Chamber of Commerce said that they are still putting together a list of benefits the chamber provides to local businesses but did say some of the benefits include membership with the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, discounted room rental at the Heritage Centre and some free advertising on the electronic sign situated outside the chamber.
Mayor Magee said that she would like to see support for the chamber extended by the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako, chamber members and the village as the chamber caters to businesses in the entire Lakes District - not just the village.
Among the things local businesses would like to see included in the downtown core redevelopment plans are; good signage, repaired sidewalks and potholes, more businesses in the downtown core - especially more retail businesses, keeping Gilgan Road open, trees planted on the disused Shell service station property, downtown parking for big rigs and recreational vehicles, more sidewalks, more crosswalks, another traffic light on Hwy. 16, trees planted along the sidewalks, benches and tables placed in the downtown area, more parking spaces, a display of First Nations art and culture and more care with village snow plowing.
Previously Nicholas pointed out the village officials that the idea for the redevelopment should focus on getting people to slow down when passing through the downtown core.
She said she felt that having a fast food restaurant [as per the plans] located on Hwy. 16, opposite from the Royal Bank would be detrimental to other small cafe style businesses.
Tim Palmer, Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake chief administrative officer said that design plans are still being developed and that there is opportunity for change.
He went on to say that one of the barriers to the plans is recent budget cuts by council which have effected the downtown redevelopment plans.
He added that there is a possibility that new downtown design plans could be developed by Boulevard and D'Ambrosio to reflect the suggestions provided from the public feedback forms and sketches.
Recently local resident Reg Leith provided to the village a sketch of a proposed downtown design he had drawn.
Mayor Magee said to council that she thought his design was well thought out and that it would be sent off to D'Ambrosio and Boulevard to see if it is feasible,
"I like to see the participation of the downtown business owners, there is more pride in the downtown area and gives us support for what we are doing," she added.
