By the early 1990s, the discipline of urban planning widely began using the terms ‘public engagement’ and ‘public consultation’ to describe how groups outside City Hall could contribute to city building decisions. Since then, there have been significant shifts in what ‘engagement’ and ‘consultation’ mean and how they are used in decision making processes. The concept is constantly evolving and we continue to learn.
The City of Edmonton often uses public engagement and consultation to share information and provide opportunities for feedback on a range of new plans, developments, and civic projects. Multiple public engagement and consultation events are held each month. As a City, we have been lucky to work with a range of diverse, thoughtful and energetic Edmontonians who have participated and provided feedback on our city building initiatives.
Evolving Infill is one of the City’s newest projects. The project aims to use public engagement to generate new ideas and opportunities for changing how the City supports residential infill (new houses in older neighbourhoods) and accommodates population growth in the coming years. This time we are trying a different approach to public engagement: We’re asking Edmontonians to tell us about their own experiences with residential infill and to suggest changes to how we might support infill in the future. We’re doing this instead of asking for reactions to something the City has already proposed.
Infill is a complex issue. Everyone has different ideas, perspectives and understandings about what infill means and how it should be done. Planning with complexity is difficult, but the Evolving Infill project aims to capitalize on this complexity to address and respond to neighbourhood change in an effective, creative and productive way.
We are collecting stories, perspectives, and ideas that help us to both better understand infill in Edmonton, and to support future residential infill development in meaningful and actionable ways that are responsive to what we learn through the Evolving Infill engagement process. This is a tall order. It is an exciting approach that invites new opportunities and insights as we embark on a journey of learning and building together.
Evolving Infill rolls out now through April 2014! Have an idea to share about residential infill? Take part in the conversation. Check out the project website for details and opportunities to get involved www.edmonton.ca/evolvinginfill. More to come!