[All] Fw: Jeffersons and Strasburg Road Extension

Fri Nov 4 16:02:00 EDT 2011

FYI- Strasburg Road extension

____________________________________________________

Hello Mr. Korah, Mr. Upjohn, Mr. Thornton

Recently I attended the openhouse regarding the Strausberg road extension. There are a couple of issues I have in regards to the lack of information at the openhouse.

First off, there was no chart indicating a clear 5 step Class EA schedule C process.  The data as presented only showed a 4 stage process which is misleading. See the attachment 4stageEA.jpg for what was shown to the public.  I have a photo of the data as provided to the public and it is woefully lacking in clairity: 

The public was not reasonably informed as to when a Part II order could be submitted and there was no clear graphic outlining the proper protocols or procedures of the standard 5 stage Class EA process. This is not conducive to facilitating reasonable public participation. Please visit this web link to view the data the public should see in order to better understand the protocols of a Class EA process.

http://www.durham.ca/departments/works/eaprocess/EXHA-2.pdf

This chart should be on display as a mandatory part of public openhouses for Class EA processes. I would like to see such information used at the next openhouse and I would like the published ads and signs clearly state which numeric phase of the Class EA we are actually participating in. Such information should be mandated to be included. 

In regards to the road design, the public was asked to select their choice of roadways, however there was no maps identifying the delineated habitat areas of the confirmed endangered Jefferson Salamanders in this location. See Jefferson Jpg that confirmed their presence in the area. I do not wish to support any road design that infringes upon our current laws, nor do I want to make any decision in absence of reasonable data to show that proper criteria for habitat delineation has been met. 

I was told at the open house that the reason the City of Kitchener did not provide the map was because the only map currently being used by the MNR is a draft copy and until it is finalized they do not want to release it to the public. See the attachment titled nohabitatmap.jpg for details.

My concern is, why are we proceeding to ask the public for the preferred road design in the absence of this critical finalized delineation? It is premature to ask the public to select the preferred route in absence of this data.  It is indefensible that the City of Waterloo and the MNR have failed to comply with the statutory duties under the Endangered Species Act. The public needs the data to assure compliance has been reasonably met and to effectively participate to select a roadway in compliance to provincial planning law and the ESA. 

On October 4, 2011, I attended a Regional Council meeting regarding a proposed River Road extension project involving a project that will encroach upon confirmed Jefferson Salamander habitat. I observed city staff stating they don't need a permit to do this work. I created a private youtube page with this video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdRuYRIQdJk 

The statements issued by Regional staff on this video conflict with the information provided to me by Senior Policy Advisor Gail Jackson of the MNR who states the most current law applies. They absolutely need a permit.  I submitted a document to help clairify the stance of the MNR in regards to this issue and submitted it the night of the public open house regarding the Strasburg Road Extension Class EA held on October 26th 2011.  I will provide a copy of it for your reference via this email as well. 

Thank you kindly for your time.

Louisette Lanteigne
700 Star Flower Ave.
Waterloo Ontario
N2V 2L2

519-885-7619
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