A Guide for Developing Neighbourhood Plans is a joint publication of Manitoba Intergovernmental Affairs and the City of Winnipeg’s Planning, Property and Development Department - Planning and Land Use Division. The Guide was developed as part of the Manitoba Government's Neighbourhoods Alive! program, which provides community organizations in designated neighbourhoods with the support they need to rebuild these neighbourhoods. Neighbourhoods Alive! recognizes that often the best ideas for neighbourhood revitalization come from the community itself. The aim of Neighbourhoods Alive! is to support these ideas and goals with funding and planning assistance.

This guide has been developed to assist neighbourhoods and communities to organize, plan effectively and get some of the resources they may need to improve their neighbourhoods.

There is no “right” way to develop a neighbourhood or community plan. Each neighbourhood will need to adopt its own planning process to suit its unique situation.

Every good planning process, however, has certain “basics” in common. These include:

• Representation of key neighbourhood stakeholders
• Consensus Building towards decision making
• Open Communication with the neighbourhood

This guide includes suggestions on how to get started with your plan, steps to consider as you proceed, and where to find additional resources. The “Resources in Print” section (Appendix 7) is a bibliography of resources grouped under topics you may wish to explore further. Internet sites and a listing of contacts that might help you along the way are also provided in the appendices. This guide provides some examples and ideas that may help you, but keep in mind that your local library, university libraries and the Internet can also be great sources of reference material.

Download the Neighbourhood Planning Guide

Table of Contents

Part One - Introduction
1.1 What Is A Neighbourhood Plan?
1.2 Who Do You Involve?
1.3 Who Benefits from A Neighbourhood Plan?

Part Two - Getting Started
2.1 Checking for Community Interest
2.2 Defining Your Neighbourhood
2.3 Establishing A Neighbourhood Planning Team
2.4 Communicating With Your Neighbourhood
2.5 Organizing Your Planning Team for Action

Part Three - Developing Your Neighbourhood Vision
3.1 Gathering Information About The Neighbourhood
3.2 Assessing Your Neighbourhood’s Strengths and Weaknesses
3.3 Drafting A Vision Statement
3.4 Getting Neighbourhood Endorsement

Part Four - Developing An Action Plan

Part Five - How Can We Measure Our Progress? Developing Neighbourhood Indicators

Part Six - Neighbourhood Plan Approval

Part Seven - From Planning to Action – Implementing the Plan
7.1 Preparing A Budget
7.2 Carrying Out The Plan
7.3 Evaluation – How Well Did We Do?
7.4 Next Steps

APPENDICES

Appendix 1 - Funding Resources
Appendix 2 - City of Winnipeg Neighbourhood Housing Plan Requirements
Appendix 3 - Assessing Your Neighbourhood
Appendix 4 - Community Resources
Appendix 5 - Sample Project Budget – Neighbourhood Landscaping Project
Appendix 6 - Housing Program Summary
Appendix 7 - Resources in Print
Appendix 8 - Resources on the Internet