[All] Waterloo Council Delays Costco to Address Community Concerns!

[Gregory C. Michalenko]

Dear Fellow Grenlings,

I too am very disappointed at the outcome of the Costco meeting.  The text below is pretty long, but please read through it.

I think we are victims of what I call the email-trumps-all syndrome.

Several years ago a group attempted to have the City of Waterloo legalize having a few hens in your back yard.  I appeared  to speak in favour because I previously lived in Zurich Switzerland where many people kept a few chickens and there were no problems.  Also, there used to be a chicken coop in my own back yard in downtown Waterloo.  Several delegations appeared and spoke in favour.  Councillors then voted and it was a tie.  Mayor Halloram, the tie-breaker in such situations, then announced "I received some emails opposing chickens so I'm voting against it."  She could have instead identified the unresolved points of contention (e.g., odour fears) and asked for more time to get a definitive answer on them.

I'm on the Community Garden Council.  A neighbourhood group got together to form a new garden and found a good site, in the corner of a small, little used park.  We asked them to inform all the adjoining neighbours about their plans.  They managed to contact 20 out of 24 homes and all were in favour, many very enthusiastic.  An application was submitted to the head of Kitchener parks and he turned it down because he had received one single, solitary email against it.  The poor gardeners were absolutely crushed.  The unknown dissenter's reason was never divulged to the group so that they could respond.

About a year later I was asked to provide one of two case studies  for an all-day workshop sponsored by Waterloo Region Public Health on how to make proposals to municipal governments to promote new policies(I'd earlier prepared a 25 page study regarding implementation of community garden enabling policies) .  150 people attended; the other case study was programs to prevent suicide.  In my presentation I cautioned the participants that there was always a danger than a well-researched proposal could be derailed by something unexpected, and mentioned the outcome of the chicken proposal, emphasizing that the mayor should have enabled responsive decision making rather than being preemptive.  At the break Karen Scian charged over to me, stuck her face about a foot away from mine, and lost it completely.  She yelled and stormed about how I had insulted the mayor  (who I later learned was her very close buddy.)  It was extremely disturbing and embarrassing.  I was pretty shaken.

We got hit by the same thing last night.

I wondered from the outset why Councillor Henry was chairing and not Halloram.  I was impressed by the variety of excellent, well-researched presentations, all of them critical, that highlighted a host of problems.  (Kevin, Deb, Eleanor, Jane, among others, were wonderful). In my presentation I tried to highlight (perhaps not very well) how about 15 years ago the Region held an open house at New Hamburg regarding the choice of a new landfill site (3 of the 5 candidate sites were near New hamburg, selected through an environmental assessment and some related professional studies).  The open house was well prepared and when the microphone was opened to the public, two unanticipated things emerged. One concerned a very crucial oversight in the studies, that essentially killed one site.  A second was a conceptual breakthrough by a young resident:  "We're talking about just building a new landfill.  Yet some neighbourhoods in KW now have a pilot project with blue boxes for recycling and everyone loves it and participates.  Shouldn't we be doing that in the whole Region rather than just landfilling?" It was a  bombshell suggestion.  Others now spoke up on comprehensive waste management.  The Region withdrew its simplistic plan and that's how we got the waste management site developed, coincidentally just across from Costco.  I suggested that a good public consultation on the Costco proposal could produce similar benefits.

After the delegations had spoken Karen Scian spoke first, mentioned that she had got loads of emails, that they mostly either wanted the Costco or were concerned about traffic, and brought out her ready-made motion to approve Costco but have another traffic study tied to a public consultation.  She obviously had that motion in her pocket already.  She took no consideration of the ideas and concerns coming from the delegations in front of her about other issues.  One of the presentations, from Catherine McAllister,  even came from an official council-created advisory committee, and they completely ignored her.  And what really pissed me off was to hear the councillors make such unctuous noises about how proud they were about the citizens of Waterloo that they would come out and spend 4 hours at Council, and then blatantly ignore everything they had said and foreclose on a meaningful public occultation.

Email had won again -- messages, how many, from whom, and providing what arguments, we didn't get to know.  There's a chance they were from an organized lobby in favour of Costco.  Council has discredited itself.  Kudos to Whaley for being the only one to take a principled stand.

It's nice that there is a chance to talk about traffic - but that's not good enough.

- Greg.  At the moment I wish I was a grizzly bear.


________________________________
From: All [all-bounces at gren.ca] on behalf of Susan Bryant [shbryant at uwaterloo.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2014 9:34 PM
To: John Jackson; Deb Swidrovich; Eleanor Grant
Cc: GREN
Subject: Re: [All] Waterloo Council Delays Costco to Address Community Concerns!

Is there a different, much more sensible location for the Costco that many people, I understand, want? If there is, maybe that should be the battle. From my distant view in Woolwich, it strikes me that Costco around here somewhere likely can’t be stopped, but perhaps the negatives mitigated by a different spot.

Just a question from someone who knows way less about the issue than most of you. I’d like it gone, but if Costco must come... is there a location? I’m in favor of fighting losing battles when necessary, but as I age,  I’m getting picky about which ones. If there’s no other ok Costco location, I’ll sign on happily to the desperate cause against it altogether.

Any possibilities?

Many, many thanks to all of you who have done the work.

Susan B.

From: John Jackson<mailto:jjackson at web.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2014 8:23 PM
To: Deb Swidrovich<mailto:deswid at gmail.com> ; Eleanor Grant<mailto:eleanor7000 at gmail.com>
Cc: GREN<mailto:all at gren.ca>
Subject: Re: [All] Waterloo Council Delays Costco to Address Community Concerns!

And I add to Deb’s concerns that the decision on whether – actually on when - to proceed will not be made by council, but by a civil servant. Council is now off the hook. This is not the way that an important community decision should be made.

John


On 14-04-08 7:40 PM, "Deb Swidrovich" <wlmailhtml:deswid at gmail.com<UrlBlockedError.aspx>> wrote:

As I see it, City of Waterloo councillors tried to appease everyone:

- last night's approval of the zone change essentially is an approval of a Costco at that location (because of the way the big box store designation was written into the City's official plan; it was almost hand written for Costco) which they likely thought would keep the Costco people from running to the OMB
- this allows the Rice Group (owners of the property) to move ahead with the land augmentation (SWM ponds, etc.) (a condition of the land swap that was heard before this Costco application) thinking it would keep them at bay
- it addresses some of our concerns that we brought forward about the need for an integrated traffic analysis, public consultation, etc. so that we don't run to the OMB
- it makes it easier for councillors during their campaigns who can tell their constituents that they approved Costco (for those who want it); but they've put everything on hold until the traffic analysis and road improvements are done (for those who are concerned about traffic or don't want to see it at that location), and that Costco may go away if the studies take too long (for those who don't want it at all)
-  the politicking has already begun with the Region blaming the City for the traffic problems and the City blaming the Region (Karen Scian, City councillor who presented the motion will be running against Sean Strickland and Jane Mitchell this term).  There's already a discussion on CTV about the cost, who will pay, and whether the Regional roads can be upgraded before 2020.

I would have preferred:
- a deferral
- had they not approved the zoning we might have had a chance to remove the big box store designation from the Official Plan based on traffic issues; now it is embedded in the Plan
- I have the same concerns as Eleanor that we will not have representation on the task force under the Commissioner of Integrated Planning and Public Works, or have much influence in the final say other than responding to another report from staff that could recommend that Costco or another big box store be approved at that location (Kevin is aware of this as well)

I am still concerned that:
- we will have gridlock
- the Laurel Creek ESL will not be protected
- that the Wilmot Line will suffer

We do have another kick at the can which is what we have to work with now.  Time will tell.

We will continue to push to be included.


Deb Swidrovich















On Tue, Apr 8, 2014 at 5:25 PM, Eleanor Grant <wlmailhtml:eleanor7000 at gmail.com<UrlBlockedError.aspx>> wrote:

Kevin - friend - if you could take off those rose-coloured glasses for a minute:)

Costco is APPROVED.  Only Mark Whaley voted against that.  Nothing else can go on that land now.  The pressure to speed up the study will be enormous.

Who is this Commissioner of Integrated Planning and Public Works?  Can s/he be trusted not to approve a transportation report that's as big a joke as the one presented last night by staffer Joel Kotter (that you were shaking your head all the way through)?  It's the Commissioner that has to be satisfied, not the people.

There don't exist any transportation solutions that could accommodate the thing.  If the study did its job it would conclude that.  But it won't.  We'll end up with a half-baked outcome that DOESN'T protect Wilmot Line and the ESLs, and DOESN'T keep Erb's Rd an open way between city and township.  A lot of disastrous outcomes .....

Talk Thurs.

Eleanor

On Apr 8, 2014 4:53 PM, "Kevin Thomason" <wlmailhtml:kevinthomason at mac.com<UrlBlockedError.aspx>> wrote:
Wow!  I'm thrilled to let you know that at last night's Council meeting, Waterloo City Councillors listened to our community and voted to delay the proposed West side Waterloo Costco development to undertake a detailed study of traffic issues (vehicle, cycling, and pedestrian), involve the community in proper public engagement, and implement the required transportation infrastructure before allowing Costco to proceed.

Congratulations and thank you to everyone (including a significant number of GREN folks) throughout our community who spoke up and expressed concerns about this proposed high-volume, big-box development.  Fourteen delegations from Waterloo, Wilmot, and Kitchener did a great job presenting a myriad of issues to City Council.  Costco Vice-President Jeff Ishida tried to address several areas of concern however, it was clear that many unanswered questions remained.

It was amazing how delegations presented a broad spectrum of community concerns including traffic, financial, environmental, landfill, EMS, and cultural issues during the four hour long meeting.  Community members made it clear that Waterloo would not succeed in the future if our city faced serious congestion and gridlock daily, neighbourhoods were compromised, and rare environmentally sensitive lands that have been protected through decades of efforts were overwhelmed by traffic.

City Staff and consultants did their best to defend Costco's development plans and their recommendations to proceed immediately, however even after hours of discussion there were too many unanswered questions, too many vague responses, and too many outstanding issues - including considerable concerns about the lack of public engagement on this large development proposal that stood to negatively affect so many people.

The standing room-only crowd filling the Council Chambers heard the Mayor and nearly every City Councillor speak about their serious concerns with this proposed Costco and the predicted impacts to the West side.  In the end, Councillors voted against their own City Staff recommendation and sent a clear message that only after outstanding issues are addressed, and solutions have been found, completed, and are fully in place, would the Costco development be permitted to proceed.

The Approved Motion

Specifically, the complete holding provision motion introduced by Councillor Karen Scian, places the entire Costco store, gas bar and surrounding development on hold until:
a) An integrated multi-modal traffic analysis (including existing and planned development) has been completed and accepted to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Integrated Planning and Public works;
b) Public open houses and engagement has been held regarding the integrated traffic plan; and,
c) That the necessary transportation improvements have been completed.

The funding and study is to begin in 2014, will involve co-ordination between local and regional governments, and is expected to ensure the protection of vulnerable neighbourhoods and environmental areas.

Community Engagement

It has been incredible to see how quickly and strongly our community rallied in recent days upon learning the full details about Costco's proposal and the ensuing issues - particularly the severe traffic congestion forecast over such a large area.   While most people in Waterloo would like to see a Costco warehouse store in our city, the proposed Erb St. W. location listed in the City Official Plan has proved to be an incredibly constrained and challenging site.  Few could fathom that such a massive Costco drawing an estimated 5,500 cars/day would be built on only a two lane road with no other accesses or road infrastructure for up to four years in such an already congested area.

Councillor Scian reported receiving more than 350 e-mails in the past week alone on this development proposal.  Neighbourhood associations, community groups, and citizens met with Staff and Councillors to try to understand forecasted impacts, and last week on very short notice Costco Executives and consultants flew from Virginia and Ottawa to meet with representatives from area neighbourhood associations to better understand our concerns.  Costco has a global reputation for being a responsible corporate citizen and an excellent employer.  So far our experience with their team reflects this excellence.  I am optimistic that Costco and its developers/consultants will work with our community, City Staff, and Councillors to find the needed solutions and best path forward.

Thank You and Next Steps

Thank you to everyone, every group, neighbourhood association, and organization that took the time to learn about this development proposal, it's forecasted impacts, and spoke up with concerns.  Our city leaders have responded and we now have a unique opportunity to pause and reflect on the current state of the West side of Waterloo. We have a chance to envision the future and develop a plan that will create the community that we want.

We need to be innovative, creative and visionary.  With a limited land supply remaining we must carefully consider the future - what we want the Westside to become, how we want to travel, how much congestion is acceptable, and what our legacy will be for future generations.

At this point it is too early to say how long it will take to develop and implement this plan to address the community's concerns.  It will likely take several months to complete the integrated plan and perhaps several years before all the solutions and infrastructure can be put into place before Costco and the surrounding developments can proceed.

Please share any thoughts or ideas on how we can develop a world-class plan for the West side.  Congratulations again, to everyone who sent letters, attended meetings, talked with neighbours, and worked so hard to help ensure the best possible future for our community.

Kevin.

-------------------------------------

Kevin Thomason

1115 Cedar Grove Road
Waterloo, Ontario Canada  N2J 3Z4

Phone: (519) 888-0519 <tel:%28519%29%20888-0519>
Mobile Phone: (519) 240-1648 <tel:%28519%29%20240-1648>
Twitter: @kthomason
E-mail: wlmailhtml:kevinthomason at mac.com<UrlBlockedError.aspx>

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John Jackson
17 Major Street
Kitchener, Ontario N2H 4R1
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