Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson - Fort Simpson's community plan is getting an upgrade.

The village's current plan dates to 1988. A previous council tried to create a new one in the early 1990s but it was never passed, said Mayor Duncan Canvin.

Ann Peters, a planner with Dillon Consulting Ltd., examines a map of Fort Simpson with Larry Swartz during the First Friday Coffeehouse in the village as part of the revision of the community plan. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

In order to keep with modern times and to remain consistent with practices in the rest of Canada, the village is updating both their community plan and zoning bylaws.

"The village has faced changes since the last one was put in place," said Canvin.

A community plan sets up guidelines for physical development within a community's boundaries. The new plan will reflect current land uses and also provide for future development. Community members have been asking for more land for industrial and housing purposes and the plan will show which areas are the most suitable, said Canvin.

The village has hired Dillon Consulting Ltd. to revise both sets of documents.

"The big thing about these plans is it puts some certainty on the ground," said Ann Peters, a planner with Dillon Consulting Ltd.

Community plans and zoning bylaws are standard tools that communities across Canada use to ensure development doesn't happen haphazardly.

"People want to know what the rules are and have some idea of what might happen around them," said Peters.

The plans are long-term and involve looking ahead to see if the village is prepared for things that might happen in the future.

The revision of the plan started in July. A number of organizations in the community are in the process of being interviewed for their input including Liidlii Kue First Nation, the Fort Simpson Metis Nation, Dehcho First Nations and the NWT Housing Corp.

The input of community members is also being sought. Although most people's daily lives aren't affected by community plans it's important for people to know about them, said Peters.

"It lets people give their head a shake and look at things they may have gotten used to and may want to rethink," she said.

When asked about their community and possible changes people usually fall into two camps, she said. Either they want things to stay the same or would like to see major changes, said Peters.

Peters started gathering ideas and opinions at a display during the First Friday Coffeehouse on Nov. 2. The goal is to get as many opinions as possible so residents' ideas are represented in the plan, she said.

Residents can also have their say by filling out a questionnaire that's available at the village office and online at the village's website.

After all the input has been incorporated into a revised plan, Peters will hold a presentation in late November or early December to present options including zoning maps and ideas of where future development could be.

The village council will then adopt the final community plan and zoning bylaws through a formal process.