"This really is an important document and if used correctly can make a big difference in your community," said Felice Mazzoni. "If we missed anything, let us know."
The planning services manager from Focus Corporation was speaking about Clearwater's official community plan. He presented a final draft before completion of the plan to a public meeting last Wednesday evening at Clearwater Secondary School.
The official community plan is not the same as a zoning bylaw, he said.
Although it includes general descriptions about what should go where, the OCP's vision is broader than that.
He gave as an example co-generation and biomass energy. Clearwater could lead the province in developing and installing that technology, he said. Small towns historically have been able to move much more quickly than larger centers on questions like that.
Having such an initiative part of the OCP and thereby integrated with other initiatives would make it easier to obtain government grants and so on.
"Where are you going to extend your sewer to?" he asked. "If it's not in the OCP, it won't happen - unless council amends it."
Mazzoni also was impressed by the potential of Clearwater's (almost totally unplanned) trail network.
"Clearwater has a trail network that is absolutely unbelievable," he said. "I've done a lot of OCPs and I've never seen a trail network like you have."
His colleague Richard Giele was impressed by the support the community gave the planning process.
"In all honesty, I think this process we went through was probably the strongest I've seen since starting with Focus," said Giele.
Examples included the strong responses they received at a booth set up during the Olympic Torch Relay, a resident survey, surveys of young people at Clearwater Secondary School and Raft River Elementary, and a display set up during May Day celebrations.
Clearwater chief administrative officer Isabell Hadford noted that comments on the final draft of the OCP would be accepted until May 20. After that it will go to council for first reading.