The Municipality of Boissevain-Morton continues to get feed back on what area residents would like to see in a new community development plan.

HTFC Planning and Land Use consultants have been holding information sessions as that group works to put a report together for council.

The latest community meeting took place Wednesday afternoon at the Legion Hall.

Adam Kroeker with HTFC said it was the second of three such meetings that will take place during the information gathering process.

“These meetings are important because they will shape what decisions council will make for future development. We’ve heard people want more rural development and that includes access to things like two acre lots or more cottage country lots south of Boissevain.”

Kroeker says when it comes to housing in Boissevain things look pretty good and comments so far haven’t indicated there’s a real need for more types of housing in town.

Topping the list of things people want in a new plan is a way of keeping and attracting retail businesses.

“That was the number one thing people thought council should focus on over the next decade. The community used to have eight restaurants and that’s dropped down to like four. People also want more variety in retail and for other ways to support existing retailers.”

Cracking the top three things people would like in the municipality was to re-establish a walking trail around Boissevain.

“We were surprised the number of comments we got about the trail system. They want it refreshed to have it looping around town and maybe link it up to the reservoir so you can even bike the trail. I think the pandemic has spoken about the importance of being active and getting out doors” said Adam Kroeker.

Kroeker adds there will be another meeting before HTFC presents a report to council. He thinks council should be able to start work on introducing a by-law by late spring.