From village agreement to livability plan
In October 2022, a so-called village deal was signed for Altforst. Various associations and organizations from Altforst concluded this deal together with the Municipality of West Maas en Waal and the Province of Gelderland. The aim is to preserve and improve the liveability and attractiveness of the village, now and in the long term. There are several developments in the village that affect its social structure and layout. These issues were also mentioned in the village development plan drafted in 2019. Examples include desired housing, encounters between residents, and the need for a shared multifunctional activity building. The involved parties from Altforst and the municipality want to further elaborate on these issues in conjunction and record this elaboration in a liveability plan. This plan should provide an overview of opportunities, bottlenecks, and solutions, and clarity on who can and should do what. Consultancy firm VundamenZ has been asked to guide Altforst and the municipality in creating this liveability plan.
Steps taken so far
In March 2023, the process aimed at developing a livability plan was launched. It was decided to first hold one-on-one discussions with all relevant associations and organizations. The goal was to get off to a good start and gather input for an initial village-wide meeting. Between March 17 and 28, discussions were held with the Altforst Village Platform, De Uithof Community Center, De Tweestroom Elementary School, AAC Olympia, the Altforst Youth Association, the 50+ Seniors Association, De Kikvorsche Carnival Association, Ter Haar Sporting, KDV Hummeltjeshof, and the Altforst Historical Working Group. These discussions provided a clear picture of the activities and housing needs of these parties, as well as their vision for a livable Altforst. Discussions were also held with the initiators of (potential) housing developments in the village.
The village-wide meeting took place on Tuesday, April 18. At the municipality’s request, this session was combined with the meeting in Altforst the environmental vision. This was done to minimize the burden on residents. The outcomes of the various meetings were discussed with the Project Group. Various associations and organizations from Altforst in this project group. The municipality is also part of these consultations.
Initial results
Through the bilateral discussions and the meeting on April 18, we have completed the first phase of the process. This phase has yielded a great deal of information and insight into opportunities and challenges. Relevant input for the final livability plan:
- A solid foundation.
Altforst isn’tAltforst from scratch. There are already various initiatives and facilities in the village that make a valuable contribution to the quality of life. The De Uithof community center and De Tweestroom elementary school are important “hubs” for meeting and connecting. However, it is also the less visible activities and initiatives that are worth mentioning. A real gem is the Altforst Youth Association Altforst JVA). In many other villages in the Netherlands, people are working hard to set up similar initiatives for and by young people. In Altforst , such an initiative Altforst in place for years. The JVA is firmly rooted in Altforst society and is rock-solid. For residents aged 50 and older, the Senior Citizens’ Association organizes various activities. This is an excellent example of how residents take the initiative themselves to encourage interaction among fellow villagers and help engage Altforst older residents. An event like PinksterVaria also has broad social value for the village. The event fosters social interaction but also provides a financial boost to local community life. In exchange for providing volunteers, associations receive a financial contribution. They can use these funds for their activities. A great “win-win.” - Concerns about the future.
Virtually every association, organization, and resident we spoke with has expressed concern about the lack of new housing construction in Altforst. There is a great need for new housing in the village. Homes for first-time buyers, for seniors (also with an eye toward mobility), and for families with (young) children. The latter is also important for the continuity of the elementary school. First-time buyers have difficulty, if not impossibility, finding a home in the village. This leads them to Altforst and live elsewhere. Finally, there Altforst only a limited number of senior housing units in Altforst . There appears to be a need for more such housing. This is necessary to stimulate mobility in the housing market and to ensure that residents Altforst continue to live in Altforst even as they age. - Keeping Track of Housing Development.
There are several housing development initiatives in and around the village. A plan is currently being developed for the Kerkstraat/Kerkdwarsstraat site, another plan is underway for Woerdsestraat, and there have been past discussions about potential housing developments on several plots around Heppertsestraat. Discussions have revealed that residents have limited insight into the structure and progress of these plans. There is concern about the lack of housing construction. Discussions and meeting minutes from previous information/resident meetings indicate that residents are unclear as to why housing construction is taking so long. There is a strong call for acceleration. No more looking back, but rather looking forward together. The latter is particularly important because the issue of housing development appears to be dividing the village, and there is still insufficient dialogue on this topic. - More clarity on the role and position of the village platform.
The Municipality of West Maas en Waal considers the Altforst Actief village platform a full-fledged discussion partner for the municipality and a 'liaison officer' with the village. The village platform assigns itself an inventorying role. The village platform is not a decision-making body on behalf of the village. Apparently, there are differing perceptions of the role and position of the Village Platform in Altforst. Some residents have a negative perception of the village platform. This perception must be addressed. The village platform is willing to explain its role once again.
Additional steps are required
VundamenZ has discussed the initial findings with the project group and the municipality. VundamenZ has recommended incorporating a few additional steps into the process—steps that are essential to ensuring that the livability plan ultimately gains broad support and is feasible. This recommendation is based on the following observations:
- The housing issue is taking its toll. The need to build new homes is not in question. It is primarily the location of these new homes that is sparking debate. There is tension surrounding this issue, and this tension is evident in the relationships within the village. Clarity and a sense of direction are essential for all residents. This will also lay the groundwork for further discussion on other important quality-of-life issues.
- In addition, there are varying views and expectations regarding (potential) housing development projects. There is no clear picture in Altforst the design (types of housing, numbers) and status of the plans. Furthermore, some of the initiators of these construction plans feel that the municipality has not provided sufficient clarity and communication.
- Finally, in the background, dissatisfaction lingers in the village regarding the lack of progress on the renovation/new construction of the community center. Residents feel that new arguments constantly emerge, delaying the planning for the community center. Reference is also made to the realization of community centers in other villages of West Maas en Waal (“Why there and not here?”).
An important next step is to discuss these observations with the village and municipal authorities. The goal is to build trust, provide factual information about the housing development projects, offer a vision for the future, and thereby create a shared foundation for the next steps. Prior to this meeting, door-to-door information will be distributed regarding the housing development projects in Altforst. This is to ensure that every resident has access to the same information and to address any potential confusion.
What's next?
Information regarding housing development is currently being prepared and is expected to be released within a few weeks. Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the highest possible turnout, the meeting with the village and the municipality is scheduled to take place after the summer recess. The entire village is invited to this meeting. Residents of Altforst a personal invitation in the mail.
VundamenZ will continue to develop potential scenarios for the village hall and school in parallel. Based on the bilateral discussions, it will draw up a space allocation plan, investment estimates, an initial framework for management and operations, and a general site integration/location study. The results of these steps will be discussed in the project group immediately after the summer recess and will serve as input for a second planning session with the entire village.