The final Community Vision for Lombardy was adopted on Monday, December 2 at the regular meeting of Council.

Rideau Lakes continues to foster efforts towards village vitality and engaged the community of Lombardy to develop a Vision that will inform municipal plans and strategies for future development. This includes the Community Improvement Plan for Villages, that allows the municipality to establish grant programs to fund private property improvements and initiatives through the Planning Act.

In summer 2024, local consultant Jordan Hawn of Hawn Consulting was the successful candidate selected by the Township to work with the Rideau Lakes Visioning Steering Committee to conduct the community engagement process, to analyse the input received and propose an actionable vision for the community of Lombardy.

The Rideau Lakes Visioning Steering Committee that guided the project included representatives from Rideau Lakes Council, the Lombardy Agricultural Society and Lombardy residents through the active Community Enhancement Committee. This group helped to get the word out about the project through community meetings, posters and handing out cards, while Township staff provided support in contacting residents of South Elmsley by mail. In addition to in-person and virtual workshops, a survey was conducted to gather feedback from both seasonal and permanent residents, business people and visitors.

Mayor Arie Hoogenboom remarked, “Congratulations and thank you to all those who participated in the input process. Lombardy has successfully communicated their vision as a community, and the Township is now equipped with the information to address a number of important priorities for growth. It is essential that we consider these items as we look to the future.”

Over the past several years, the Township has engaged with the villages in Rideau Lakes to learn what residents value in their own community, and how they would like to see their village in 2030. This important work will help the Rideau Lakes Economic Development Committee as they endeavour to embark on village renewal plans for the communities of Chaffeys Lock, Delta, Elgin, Lombardy, Newboro and Portland.

The Village Vision reports will actively inform other municipal planning initiatives including, but not limited to, the Community Improvement Plan for Villages, the Economic Development Action Plan, the Recreation Master Plan, and the Rideau Lakes Strategic Plan.

For more information, all Village Vision documents are available on the Township website:

https://www.rideaulakes.ca/visionreports