From village agreement to livability plan

In October 2022, a so-called “village deal” was signed for Altforst. Various associations and organizations from Altforst this agreement together with the municipality West Maas en Waal the Province of Gelderland. The goal is to preserve and improve the village’s quality of life and appeal—both now and in the long term. There are several developments in the village that are affecting its social structure and layout. These issues were also identified in the 2019 village development plan. Examples include the desired housing construction, opportunities for residents to interact, and the need for a shared, multifunctional community center. The stakeholders from Altforst the municipality wish to further develop these issues in a coordinated manner and to document these findings in a livability plan. This plan should provide an overview of the opportunities, challenges, and potential solutions, as well as clarity on who can and must take what actions. The consulting firm VundamenZ has been asked to assist Altforst the municipality in developing this livability 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:

1. 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.” 
2. 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. 
3. 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.  
4. Greater Clarity on the Role and Position of the Village Platform.
   The municipality West Maas en Waal the Altforst village platform to be a full-fledged discussion partner of the municipality and a “liaison” with the village. The village platform assigns itself a role focused on assessment and analysis. The village platform is not a decision-making body acting on behalf of the village. There appear to be differing perceptions regarding the role and position of the village platform in Altforst. Some residents hold a negative view of the village platform. This perception must be dispelled. The village platform is willing to clarify 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, there is simmering discontent in the village over the lack of progress on the renovation or new construction of the village hall. Residents feel that new arguments keep cropping up, which is delaying the planning process for the village hall. They also point to the completion of village halls in other communities within 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.