The Town of LaSalle hopes residents will attend one of two planned workshops on what to do with 940 hectares of land in the Howard Avenue and Bouffard Road area.
The town identified the area for urban development over two decades ago, and now, with the crunch on to build more homes, LaSalle hopes to have a complete plan in 2024.
The workshops are on Thursday, January 25. Town staff will present the Howard Bouffard Secondary Plan. The public can offer their input during group discussions.
Two sessions are planned at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. in the Friendship Seniors Room at the LaSalle Civic Centre.
The town limited development in the area in the past because it contains significant wetlands, woodlands, valley lands, and fish habitats. It's home to several endangered and at-risk species. A plan before councillors in November recommended putting aside a fifth of the land for environmental protection.
The secondary plan also said the land could be home to up to 25,000 people in the next two or three decades, living in more than 10,000 homes.
The town is updating its land use goals and policies to support a coordinated growth strategy, road and transit corridors, active transportation, and potential school sites without compromising natural heritage.
Once town staff have public input from the open house meetings, they will update the preferred plan and hold a statutory public meeting in the new year.
Those interested in attending the workshops should RSVP by Tuesday, January 23, by going to its Howard Bouffard Secondary Plan webpage or calling 519-969-7770 ext. 1233.
