[All] planning and bureaucrats

[Ginny Quinn]

Hi Susan and ALL.  Good for Terry. I am reminded of the "Save our parks "issue . It seemed that council in Kit had 'voted' to save the parks.  Most of the Kiwanis Group believed it was a done deal, but I,having had past 'complacency' experiences with such issues   called around to get the key folks to return to council the following Monday nite for the 'formal vote' ...only a few came out.  I presented and proposed in my 'thank you' speech, that I and WE would be very happy to participate in the further and designated and "written agreement 'for the parks future definite protection.'   and if a lawyer would be writing up the decision's agreement to protect in such a way that they can't attack Kiwanis, Lakeside   etc parks again.  Basically It was commented later that I put "thier feet to the fire"   I didn't think of it as that...however they said it was a done protective deal  and I just wanted it in writing.  
Well guess what ?   We found out it was just a way of pacifying us  "at this point in time".  There was no intention of keeping a protective stance on the parks in the future.  Mayor Zehr explained "This council can't make binding decisions for the next council."   My response was "So, I guess there really is no protection against a future attack on our main parks and parkland." We must be constantly on the alert.
   Point being   follow it all the way to the end and last word for assurances.
But now we have just had an issue in Waterloo where the law firm of Sorbora took down a whole woodlot for parking space where the people had thought they had been heard and so kept quiet in the belief that there beloved trees would "mostly" be saved. Dianne Freeman is gouing to try for a bylaw or action to notify residents of any change or action to thier concerns.   nobody told them until the chain SAWS WERE ACTIVATED..  Guess they didn't follow it all the way through and  now the trees are gone in the neighbourhood. This was at Union St 
My vote would be to contact Terry Pender...if he's put it on Facebook , he's wanting reaction and to stir folks to such protective action.   Them's my feelings.  
If you do make contact , it would be interesting to find the cost of flat parking lots with HUGE environmenatal foot prints versus tiered garages .   Ginny
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Susan Koswan 
  To: 'GREN2' 
  Sent: Friday, May 28, 2010 9:25 AM
  Subject: [All] planning and bureaucrats


  I hope it's not a breach of privacy protocol, but Terry Pender posted this on facebook:
  Terry Pender hears there was no compromise to the planned demilition (sic) of four historic buildings on Joseph Street. A closed-door meeting among senior city bureaucrats, the developer and heritage advocates produced no agreement.
  It reaffirms John's suggestion that all planning decisions need to be approved by council. Anything we can do now? It certainly looks like we have an ally with Terry on this. Should we approach Terry to ask him to dig deeper to see if he can do a story on bad planning decisions that should have been made public? Let him know that this is one of the issues we are planning on advocating for?
  Should respond ASAP. Thanks,
  Susan K
   



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