[All] OMB Forces Urban Sprawl on Waterloo Region

[Kevin Thomason]

Good morning,

In a very disturbing ruling the OMB is rejecting the Region of Waterloo's Regional Official Plan (ROP's) attempts to curb urban sprawl and is demanding thousands of acres of greenspace be opened up for future development:

http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/874617--provincial-tribunal-sets-back-region-s-efforts-to-curb-urban-sprawl

It is a shameful ruling from a tribunal that shouldn't exist.  Certain local developers are thrilled by the decision and are declaring a huge victory.

Twitter is rampant this morning with anger from the public that our progressive region which is leading the charge on intensification and better land-use at the bequest of the province is now being forced by the same provincial government to revert to old fashioned urban sprawl.

The Region is downplaying this decision and there is a closed door meeting of Regional Councillors (in camera) on Tuesday to discuss the ramifications.  We will likely learn more over the coming days but it could be weeks or months until we learn what greenspace is going to be redesignated and targetted for future development to accommodate this ruling.

As most OMB rulings are final and unappeallable (short of an overturn by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing).  I don't think there is much we can do here other than to try to support the Region's other efforts on growth management, public transit, water, environmental protection, etc. as much as possible and still try to positively create the community we want to live in.

Kevin.

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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

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