Smart Growth on the Ground in Maple Ridge used a charrette-based process. The process began with a series of critical workshops (see events) in which residents, business and property owners, and others with an interest in the Maple Ridge Centre came together. At these workshops, goals, objectives and design requirements were generated and compiled into a document called a "design brief."  The design brief was then used at the charrette to guide the charrette team.

A charrette is an event that brings together people who have an interest in the community in an atmosphere of trust. Facilitated by the SGOG team, the four-day event brought together representatives of various groups in Maple Ridge with professional designers, planners, and related experts. The community representatives made decisions about how to achieve the many goals outlined in the design brief, through a process of creative thinking and consensus building. 

Before, during, and after the charrette, the charrette participants had an opportunity to receive feedback from the groups they each represent. The culminating event was a presentation by the charrette team members on June 21, 2004.

Click here to view their presentation (pdf - 8.7 MB).

Click here to view the aerial view of the charrette team recommendations (pdf - 2.6 MB); be sure to zoom in to see all the details!