Summary of comments from the Altforst Residents’ Meeting in Altforst 2021
About 100 residents attended the community meeting on housing development in Altforst on October 19, 2021. A great turnout! Following the meeting, residents filled out an online feedback form on this topic. We are pleased with the many responses, which give us a good idea of what they think about housing development in their village. See the tables.
I think it's a good idea that new homes are going to be Altforst in Altforst (134 comments)
| Yes | 96,3% |
| No | 3,7% |
I think the location in question is suitable for residential development (129 comments)
| Yes | 69% |
| No | 31% |
I believe that the following number of homes could be Altforst in Altforst over the next 20 years (129 comments)
| 25 homes | 7,8% |
| 50 homes | 11,6% |
| 100 homes | 80,6% |
Residents are pleased with the new homes
The responses show that a large majority of Altforst residents think Altforst is a good idea to build new homes. New homes can help counteract the aging population and improve the quality of life. In addition, this gives young people the opportunity to continue living in their own village. That option is virtually nonexistent at present. New construction also helps to maintain existing amenities and perhaps even expand them in the future. In this regard, a preference is expressed for affordable starter homes (for local youth) and sufficient housing for seniors. Several comments indicate that the residents who stated they do not think it is a good idea to build new homes in Altforst are not entirely opposed to new construction. They are merely expressing concern about large-scale new construction, which could cause the village to lose its distinctive character.
Opinions on housing development sites are divided
The village is divided on the suitability of the proposed residential development site. A majority considers the location outlined in the master plan to be suitable. In this way, the new neighborhood will be a welcome addition to the village. The streets connect well with the existing roads, and the additional traffic will not have to pass through the existing neighborhoods. It is a nice addition to the existing buildings, without compromising the character of the village. However, many residents have indicated that they would (also) like to see alternative housing development sites. There has been a request to explore multiple options, taking into account the developments surrounding the school and the village hall. If necessary, part of the presented vision could be implemented in advance to meet current needs.
Housing is also essential for quality of life
The feedback received shows that a large majority supports the construction of 100 new homes over the next 20 years. This translates to an average of 5 new homes per year, representing healthy growth for the village. This growth contributes to the village’s quality of life and is essential to keeping the school and other amenities viable. Expansion is necessary, but it must be proportionate to the village’s needs. Options such as building through a CPO (cooperative housing project) are viewed positively.
We are going to develop a comprehensive plan
There are currently many developments underway in Altforst. Residents of the village also mentioned this during the community meeting. The De Uithof community center is planning to renovate (or build a new facility). A new building is necessary to ensure the continued operation of the elementary school. There are developments surrounding the AAC soccer club, and various housing initiatives are underway.
All of these developments are interrelated. That is why we have decided to Altforst a comprehensive vision for Altforst . This vision takes all developments into account, including any potential future housing initiatives. This means that no decision has been made on this matter at this time.
The ongoing developments on Kerkstraat-Kerkdwarsstraat and Woerdsestraat will not be delayed by the development of the comprehensive vision. The planning and implementation of these projects are proceeding as scheduled, so that new homes Altforst built in Altforst in the near future.