New neighbourhood plans for the Cowan Heights and university areas of St. John’s should be in council’s hands by September.

It follows a second round of public information sessions and consultations both online and in person, including open houses.

Feedback from that was presented to council yesterday by Alberta-based consultants O2 Planning and Design.

They found that parks, trails, safety and accessibility were key in Cowan Heights, while proper land use, safe transportation, and reflecting various identities were top concerns around MUN.

The information will be incorporated into a final draft of both neighbourhood plans to go before council in the fall.

The overall budget for each of the two neighbourhood plans is about $235,000 for a grand total of $470,000. The consultant fees are paid for using funds the city received from the CMHC’s Housing Accelerator Fund.

Nicholas Kuhl, speaking for the consultants, was asked if the public will have any more opportunities to weigh in.

“We are always welcome to incorporating feedback but the plan drafting is underway though,” he said.

“So while we are always listening, the opportunities to dramatically tweak the plan, for example, are largely by and gone. But when that draft plan is released in the fall there is a public process involved that will allow specific, targeted feedback on the policies within it. That will probably be the best use of public review and feedback time.”