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January 14, 2011 Peachland, BC
Volume 07 | Number 02
Kelowna-Westside
An independent member broker
New Monaco holds roundtable talks with local artists By Cindy Fortin New Monaco development senior planner Mark Holland hosted a wellattended roundtable discussion with representatives of Peachland’s art community last week at the community centre. Local artisans were invited to the first of several public meetings as part of New Monaco’s ongoing community consultation, with the goal of helping to shape the details of their Area Structure Plan (ASP) as it moves through the municipal approval process. New Monaco plans to integrate the arts community into their design concept, which would include an artisan hub of local arts and crafts, retail and studio space, as well as festival locations. The local arts group was encouraged to share their ideas and suggestions, and be involved in the process. “We want to make sure that our plans for the New Monaco development include fresh ideas that on the one hand can help make our new neighbourhood special and different, but also deliver useful amenities to the current population. Listening to cultural and artistic ideas from the local community is an ideal way to start this process,” said Holland. The New Monaco development – of approximately 2,600 to 2,800 units to be built on the old Drought Creek Farm near Drought Road over the next 12 to 15 years -- is being planned around themes of new technology employment, especially in the health and wellness areas, and within a framework of sustainability. Culture and the arts can play important roles in all of these fields, said Holland. “We are looking for opportunities to incorporate visual and performing arts programming into the design of our core village centre, with (Foreground) Senior development planner, Mark Holland, discusses the New Monaco artisan concept with local space, for example, for artisans to artist and Peachland resident, Judy Hewlett. In the background, Frank Warburton, of Peachland (right), shares ideas make and sell their creations. These with project manager Gordon Easton.
Photo Cindy Fortin
surroundings are attractive to the young creatives we visualize living, working and bringing up their families in the New Monaco of the future.” The neighbourhood would be centered on an integrated mixed use village, built around the principles of social, environmental and economic sustainability – a neighbourhood offering a high quality of life where residents live, work, shop, learn and play all within walking distance, among nature trails, inspirational parks, artist lands and gardens. The roundtable meeting was attended by approximately 30 local residents, most of who were artists of various mediums. One suggestion was for a multi-use arts centre or school of fine arts, including small theatre, possibly in conjunction with UBC-Okanagan, to provide a venue for performing arts. Local artist, Judy Hewlett, of Peachland, said she was overwhelmed to see that New Monaco was so receptive to public input. “They are not coming in here with a preconceived idea. They are open to what’s going to work, and I think that is going to make it a success for them,” said Hewlett. “It will be a success for the development, a success for the town, and a success for the arts community. I think it will be a win-win situation the way they are going about it.” More public roundtables are planned in the coming months. According to their December newsletter, ‘New Monaco is strongly committed to an inclusive public consultation process and will continue to meet with Peachland residents, seeking specific input which will be used to guide the development plan.’ “We are adding a big piece of fabric to your community,” said Holland. “We are at an early enough level that with your guidance, or requests, or direction, we can probably do a lot better than we could otherwise do.”
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