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<br /> <br /> <br />Section 1: <br /> Add services to existing residential neighborhoods <br /> <br /> <br />Objective: Locate specific services such as groceries, schools, parks: <br /> <br />Schools: <br />Collaborate with School Districts: When new schools are being sited or existing ones <br />are being closed, staff could work with the school districts to help inform decisions in an <br />effort to create or maintain existing 20-minute neighborhoods wherever possible. <br /> <br />Purchase school properties: When schools are being decommissioned or closed the <br />City could work with community partners to fund the purchase of the school property to <br />use as public space for the short term, allowing the site to be available again as a school <br />site once the population increases and demand for public schools returns. <br /> <br />Grocery: <br />Grocery market assessment: In locations where a lack full service grocery stores is a <br />barrier to completing a 20-minute neighborhood, Community Development staff and/or <br />consultants can provide an assessment of market conditions to determine what <br />opportunities exist to site a new grocery store. <br /> <br />Facilitate placement of grocery: In addition to conducting a market assessment, the <br />City can encourage the location of services by assisting with building permits, providing <br />small business loans, the City’s Business Development Fund program, reducing Systems <br />Development Charges (perhaps dependent on developer providing a bike and <br />pedestrian connectivity plan), (lobby for) State tax abatements, or provide other <br />incentives. <br /> <br />A small study of small scale grocery stores was conducted as a part of this 20-minute <br />neighborhood assessment. Interviews with owners and managers of small grocery <br />stores uncovered the following themes: <br /> <br />Natural foods – all of the small grocers interviewed stocked natural foods as an <br /> <br />important part of their inventory <br /> <br />Community gathering space – most of the stores had benches, a courtyard, a <br /> <br />café, or other community gathering space that they saw as important to the <br />success of their store <br /> <br />Parking – all storeowners indicated that a majority of their customers drove so <br /> <br />adequate parking is an important ingredient. <br /> <br />Loyal customers - All of the owners indicated they benefitted from a loyal <br /> <br />customer base <br />Page | 10 <br /> <br />