From village deal 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 maintain and improve the livability and attractiveness of the village, both now and in the longer term. There are several developments in the village that affect its social structure and layout. These issues are also mentioned in the village development plan drawn up in 2019. Examples include the desired housing construction, interaction between residents, and the need for a shared multifunctional activity center. The parties involved from Altforst and the municipality want to work out these issues together. And record this in a livability plan. This plan should give an idea of the opportunities, bottlenecks, and possible solutions. And clarity about who can and should do what next. Consultancy firm VundamenZ has been asked to assist Altforst and the municipality in drawing up this livability plan.
Steps taken so far
In March 2023, the process leading to a livability plan was initiated. It was decided to first engage in one-on-one discussions with all relevant associations and organizations. This was done to ensure a good start and to gather input for an initial village-wide meeting. Between March 17 and 28, discussions were held with the Altforst Actief village platform, De Uithof village hall, De Tweestroom primary school, AAC Olympia, the Altforst youth association, the 50+ senior citizens' association, De Kikvorsche carnival association, Ter Haar Sporting, KDV Hummeltjeshof daycare center, and the Altforst historical working group. These discussions provided a good 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 request of the municipality, this session was combined with the meeting in Altforst about the environmental vision. This was done to limit the burden on residents. The results of the various meetings were discussed with the Project Group. Various associations and organizations from Altforst participate in this project group. The municipality is also part of this consultation.
Initial returns
We have completed the first phase of the process with the bilateral talks and the meeting on April 18. This phase has yielded a wealth of information and insight into opportunities and dilemmas. Relevant input for the final livability plan:
- A solid foundation.
Altforst is not starting from scratch. There are already various initiatives and facilities in the village that make a valuable contribution to the quality of life. Village hall De Uithof and primary school De Tweestroom are important 'hubs' for meeting and connecting. However, it is also the less visible activities and initiatives that are noteworthy. One gem is the Altforst Youth Association (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 has been in place for years. The JVA is firmly anchored in Altforst society and is as solid as a rock. The Seniors' Association organizes various activities for residents aged 50 and older. This is an excellent example of how residents themselves are taking up the gauntlet, encouraging interaction between fellow villagers, and contributing to the activation of Altforst's more senior residents. An event such as PinksterVaria also has a broad(er) social value for the village. The event contributes to mutual encounters, but also provides a financial boost to local community life. In exchange for providing helping hands/volunteers, associations receive a financial contribution. They can use these funds for their activities. A nice 'win-win' situation. - Concerns about the future.
Virtually every association, organization, and resident interviewed has expressed concern about the lack of housing construction in Altforst. There is a great need for new homes to be built in the village. Homes for first-time buyers, for seniors (also with a view to mobility) and for families with (young) children. The latter is also important for the continuity of the primary school. First-time buyers find it difficult or impossible to find a home in the village. This leads to them leaving Altforst and moving elsewhere. Finally, there are only a limited number of senior homes in Altforst. There appears to be a need for more such homes. This is so that movement in the housing market can get underway and residents can continue to live in Altforst even in old age. - Control over housing construction.
There are several initiatives for housing construction in and around the village. A plan is being developed for the Kerkstraat/Kerkdwarsstraat location, a plan for Woerdsestraat, and in the past there has been discussion about possible housing development on several plots around Heppertsestraat. Discussions have revealed that residents have a limited understanding of the structure and progress of the plans. There is concern about the lack of housing construction. Discussions and reports from previous information/residents' evenings show that it is unclear to residents why housing construction is taking so long. There is an emphatic call for acceleration. No more looking back, but rather looking forward together. The latter is particularly important because the topic of housing construction appears to divide the village and there is still insufficient dialogue on this subject. - More clarity about the role and position of the village platform.
The municipality of West Maas en Waal considers the Altforst Actief village platform to be a fully-fledged discussion partner of the municipality and a 'liaison officer' with the village. The village platform assigns itself an inventory role. The village platform is not a decision-making body on behalf of the village. There appear to be differing views on the role and position of the Village Platform in Altforst. Some residents have a negative image of the village platform. This image must be dispelled. The village platform is prepared to explain its role once again.
Additional process steps required
VundamenZ discussed the initial findings with the project group and the municipality. VundamenZ recommended incorporating a few additional steps into the process. These are important steps to ensure that the livability plan ultimately gains support and becomes feasible. The recommendation is based on the following observations:
- The housing issue is leaving its mark. The construction of new homes is not up for debate. It is the location of new housing developments that is causing controversy. There is tension surrounding the issue. This tension is noticeable in the relationships within the village. Clarity and perspective for all residents is essential. This will also create a basis for further discussion on other important quality of life issues.
- In addition, there are varying views and expectations regarding (potential) housing projects. There is no clear picture in Altforst regarding the design (type of homes, numbers) and status of the plans. Some of the initiators of construction plans feel that the municipality has provided insufficient clarity and communication.
- Finally, there is underlying discontent in the village about the lack of action/new construction of the village hall. Residents feel that new arguments are constantly being put forward, which is delaying the planning process for the village hall. They also point to the construction of village halls in other centers in West Maas en Waal ("Why there and not here?").
An important additional step is to discuss the above observations with the village and municipal authorities. The aim is to build trust, provide factual information about the housing construction projects, offer perspective, and thereby create a common basis for the next steps. Prior to this meeting, door-to-door information will be provided about the housing construction projects in Altforst. This is to ensure that every resident has the same information and to remove any uncertainty.
What next?
The information about housing construction is currently being prepared and is expected to be distributed within a few weeks. The meeting with the village and municipality is being planned after the summer recess in order to ensure thoroughness and the largest possible turnout. The entire village will be invited to this meeting. Residents of Altforst will receive a personal invitation in their mailbox.
VundamenZ will continue to work on possible scenarios for the accommodation of the village hall and school. Based on the bilateral discussions, it will draw up a space program, investment estimates, an initial plan for management and operation, and a general integration/location study. The results of these steps will be discussed in the project group immediately after the summer recess. They will form the input for a second construction session with the entire village.