Help plan the future of the city
This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on December 22nd, 2009.
The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:
After a temporary hiatus, FUSION’s economic development and urban planning committee has regrouped and is looking for Saint Johners looking to be a part of planning for the city’s future.
The committee works to ensure people are aware of, and engaged in, economic development and urban planning initiatives taking place throughout the city, and creates and implements new projects related to these issues. Committee member Austin Durbin has been appointed chairman and the group is already hard at work identifying projects and opportunities for the committee in the new year.
Originally from Indiana, Durbin spent a week in the Greater Saint John area while completing post-graduate studies at McGill University. He moved to Saint John this past May, and became involved with FUSION at the suggestion of a colleague.
“I wanted to meet people in my age range and with similar interests, and to connect with the community and figure out how things work in the city,” Durbin says of his decision to be involved with FUSION.
“I became involved with the economic development and urban planning committee because I saw it as an opportunity for me to step back as a citizen and become involved with issues pertaining to urban design and development in the city. I wanted a more active role in issues related to urban design and economic development, especially with the master plan that is being developed.”
A top priority for the economic development and urban planning committee in 2010 will centre around the master plan and the two-year planning process the city is undertaking to guide the development of Saint John over the next 25 years. This plan will be based on the community’s aspirations, focusing on how best to preserve and enhance quality of life, and Durbin feels FUSION members will have important feedback to share.
“I want to see the committee be involved with this new plan in terms of understanding the issues and identifying the key players,” he said.
The committee plans to create opportunities to provide feedback and be involved in the planning process.
“The urban lifestyle is becoming more desirable and this ability to develop and be a part of these plans from the outset would be a great opportunity for members of this committee and FUSION as a whole.”
The committee also hopes to establish relationships with other interest groups and organizations in the city and open channels for dialogue on issues such as alternative housing and heritage preservation.
“Ultimately we plan to find ways to communicate that we’re here and want to be involved,” Durbin said, “and to build connections that will allow that to happen.”
FUSION’s economic development and urban planning committee is currently seeking new members.
For more information on the committee, please visit our website at www.fusionsj.com.
Claire Ryan works with MT&L Public Relations Ltd. and is a member of the FUSION Saint John board. Her column appears on Tuesdays. She can be reached at cryan@mtlpr.ca.
