The Department of Planning is encouraging all residents, property owners and business owners in North East Hamilton to take part in an upcoming two-month consultation and collaboration exercise intended to bring out thoughts and ideas about the future of the neighbourhood.

The aim is to use the input to create a “Local Plan for North East Hamilton that is developed and supported by the community. This will complete the process started some years ago by the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation, working with community representatives.

The Department of Planning has organised a series of events over this month and next, including hands-on workshops, presentations, and meetings with a view to reaching as many area stakeholders as possible.

“The Department of Planning seeks to create a plan that is developed with and supported by the community that it is intended to serve,” Aideen Ratteray Prysse, the director of planning, said. “The intent of the plan will be to manage and facilitate development in accordance with the community’s vision.”

Topics to be addressed during the consultation period include issues relating to building heights, land uses, streetscapes, parking and transportation.

All events will be held at Magnolia Place, 45 Victoria Street, which is located at the corner of Victoria Street and Parliament Street.

The kick-off event will take place on Thursday from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. Attendees will be given an overview of the process for developing a “Local Plan for North East Hamilton” and the various opportunities to participate.

Workshop No 1 will be held on May 19 from 6pm to 8pm. This workshop will focus on what participants like and dislike about North East Hamilton and explore opportunities for development.

Workshop No 2 will be held on June 2 from 6pm until 8pm, focusing on building types, heights and uses, and where they should be located.

Workshop No 3 will be held on June 16 from 6pm to 8pm. Street and sidewalk improvements, parking strategies and transportation options will be the topics.

Meetings will be facilitated by Department of Planning representatives with support from the Corporation of Hamilton and the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation.

There will also be additional feedback opportunities in the late summer when the Department of Planning will present a progress report on the plan itself, and, again, during the legislated consultation period after the release of the draft plan release — expected between late this year and early next.

The City of Hamilton Plan 2015, to be released in draft form soon and finalised in the autumn, will be the “umbrella” plan for the “Local Plan of North East Hamilton”.

• For more information, contact Tania Tavares at 295-5151 ext 1245, or the planning team via e-mail planNEH@gov.bm.