Editor's note: Following is the text from Cumberland's OCP, released in 2003.

Section 2.1: The "Voice of the People, 2003".

Added Feb.5th: A printable 8.5 x 11 copy of this statement as shown in the above image is attached below, as a PDF.

Emerging from the participatory process conducted in the summer of 2003 it represents a community consensus of the characteristics, core values and community aspirations that are essential to the description of the character of Cumberland.

It is a statement of consensus that has allowed for the creation, and will allow for the subsequent stewardship, of an exciting, strong and vital community Plan for the Village of Cumberland... a Plan with which we hope to set the direction for the next decade to come.

"The people of Cumberland are fond of their community. They like its size, its friendly streets, its colourful citizenry,its history, the character of its buildings, its working class roots, and its small town atmosphere. Citizens feel that Cumberland is a good place for families, children, seniors, and others who appreciate a softer and less complicated life-style.

"The community feels a strong tie to the natural environment. In particular, there is a real affinity with the forests around the Village; they're not just a backdrop for the Village - they're part of the community itself. Citizens respect the right of timber companies to manage woodlands and harvest timber. However, they ask that the lumber companies respect the viewsheds around the Village, maintain buffers along streams, lakes and wetlands, and try to bring more timber-related economic activity to the Village.

"They also feel that the environment is a major source of new economic opportunities for the Village. This includes mountain biking, hiking, boating, fishing, bird watching, and other environmentally friendly activities. These activities should be nurtured and expanded as a part of economic development.

"It is recognized that Cumberland has problems. Too little of local incomes are spent on goods and services within the Village and it is necessary to find ways of correcting this imbalance. Part of this stems from the absence of certain commercial services in the Village such as a major grocery store. We also recognize that the Village's public infrastructure is in need of updating and repair and this will cost millions of dollars over the next decade.

"It is clearly understood that the current tax base cannot accommodate these expenditures and additional sources of funding will have to be found. These sources of income will have to come mainly from new development. But how much development is needed is not entirely clear. On the other hand, it is understand that commercial and industrial development will yield the most tax income and proposals to add some of these activities to the Village cannot be ignored.

"Citizens have definite ideas about where new development should go, what is should look like, and how it should fit into the environment. The historic Village should remain the residential hub of Cumberland. It is not the place for largescale industrial and commercial activities. However, these activities do have a place in Cumberland's future, in particular the Bevan area for industrial activities and the highway intersection for appropriate commercial activities.

"Whenever new development occurs within the borders of Cumberland, it is believed such development should be designed and built in a manner consistent with the Village's image. Cumberland is not a suburb, nor is it a highwaybased commercial center. At the core, Cumberland is an historic Village with an identity and sense of community worthy of preserving. Citizens are pleased to have others join their community, but are determined to control their own destiny. To that end, the Village requires that new development - residential, commercial, and industrial - conform to their concepts, their images, their vision of Cumberland and its future".