[All] SMART Growth and the Waterloo Official Plan OMB Appeal

[Eleanor Grant]

Thanks for this info, Kevin.  I didn't know about the web site.

May I add a few suggestions?

1. Actively solicit groups to lend their names as supporters.  (You're
probably already doing that.)  Locally, how many groups were at that hub
night on Dec 5?  Ontario-wide, how 'bout the National Farmers' Union?  Just
a start.

2. I think the web site should have a Contact Us button.  Lots of people
will have good suggestions to offer.

3. Along the lines of what Alisa suggested, maybe we need to foster citizen
visioning sessions for the region's future.  Transition's work is a start -
but how to take the issues to the mainstream?  How to organize this?  (For
example, develop a toolkit to take out to Nbrhd Assns?)

4. Can there be a table at the Earth Day events in 2 weeks, dedicated to
the OMB issue?  Is someone doing this already, or is it too late to get
one?  Need a PETITION for folks to sign, a catchy name and button, 2
posters showing alternative visions of the future!

If someone would like to do a table, I'll help with it.

Kevin and Kate, how 'bout a catchy name for this initiative, that citizens
can join?  Want to start brainstorming?  Saving our farmland is so
tremendously important.

Thanks for launching this.

Eleanor Grant
On Apr 7, 2013 10:12 AM, "Kevin Thomason" <kevinthomason at mac.com> wrote:

> Good morning!
>
> There are many people across Waterloo Region (including a number of GREN
> folks) who are working to raise concern and see what can be done regarding
> the recent ruling by the OMB against the Waterloo Regional Official Plan.
>  This ruling goes against all SMART Growth principles and will force the
> Region to develop thousands of acres of farmland and natural green space
> into old-fashioned, urban sprawl development.
>
> We have been putting together a website that will serve as an information
> source and call to action on this Ontario Municipal Board ruling.  Given
> the importance of the Regional Official Plan as the sustainable blueprint
> and progressive plan for the future of Waterloo Region, we hope that you
> will share this information within your network of friends and contacts.
>
> We are writing to ask you to do as many as possible of the following
> things:
>
> 1) Visit the site: http://smartgrowthwaterloo.ca/
>
> 2) Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SmartGrowthWaterloo
>
> 3) Follow and retweet us on Twitter: @SmartGrowthWR or
> http://twitter.com/SmartGrowthWR
>
> 4) Use the website to send a couple of quick emails to politicians who
> need to hear from you against the OMB ruling:
> http://smartgrowthwaterloo.ca/what-can-i-do/
>
> 5) Forward this information to anyone and everyone you think might be
> interested.
>
> We're trying to get the word out and ensure that our progressive ROP and
> SMART Growth plan created by our community in collaboration with our
> elected officials over the past decade is what succeeds and not the ruling
> forced by developers that will see so much urban sprawl, inefficient
> infrastructure, and loss of green space - not to mention the dangerous
> precedent being set here against SMART Growth targets and timelines for all
> of Ontario.
>
> Let us know any questions or ideas and thank you!
>
> Kevin.
>
> -------------------------------------
>
> Kevin Thomason
>
> 1115 Cedar Grove Road
> Waterloo, Ontario Canada  N2J 3Z4
>
> Phone: (519) 888-0519
> Mobile Phone: (519) 240-1648
> Twitter: @kthomason
> E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com
>
> -----------------------------------------
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> All mailing list
> All at gren.ca
> http://mail.gren.ca/mailman/listinfo/all_gren.ca
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20130407/0ab15d66/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Screen Shot 2013-04-05 at 4.53.49 PM.png
Type: image/png
Size: 533727 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20130407/0ab15d66/attachment.png>