The City of Richmond will launch on Wednesday a website dedicated to working out what the public want to see done with the Garden City Lands.
Www.creategardencitylands.ca will take off May 15, giving Richmond residents the chance to have their say on how the 136.5 acres of open space should be used.
The site launch is the start of a year-long public planning process for future use of the formerly controversial lands, which the city bought in 2010 for $60 million.
Suggested uses thus far include state-of the-art sports fields, community gardens and organic farms.
The current phase of the planning process will identify opportunities and constraints for the future use of the lands. The information gathered will be presented to Richmond City Council later this summer and form the basis for future planning. Further phases in the fall of 2013 and spring of 2014 will develop specific options for the lands future use, leading to approval of a final preferred option by council. The planning process is expected to be completed by the fall of 2014.
A highlight of the current phase will be the Create Garden City Lands Ideas Fair to be held on June 1 on the Garden City Lands.
This family-oriented event will include guided tours and other opportunities for community members to begin interacting with and exploring the lands, which have had limited public use and access for most of the past century.
The Garden City Lands are designated for Public and Open Space Use in Richmonds Official Community Plan with an agricultural zoning designation.
Provincially, the lands are locked in the Agricultural Land Reserve and can only be used for agricultural or recreation.
