[All] FW: Costco Proposal

[John Jackson]

Response to our e-mail to Waterloo City Councillors last Monday.

John
 
-- 
John Jackson
17 Major Street
Kitchener, Ontario N2H 4R1
519-744-7503


------ Forwarded Message
From: Jeff Henry <Jeff.Henry at waterloo.ca>
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 10:22:13 -0400
To: John Jackson <jjackson at web.ca>
Subject: RE: Costco Proposal

Hello John,
 
Thank you for your email, which I was able to read prior to Monday's
decision. 
 
I believe that we struck the right balance, approving the application, but
putting a hold on all development until:
(a) an integrated multi-modal traffic analysis (walking, cycling, driving,
and transit) across the west side with public open houses and community
engagement is completed and approved, and;
(b) all necessary transportation improvements are in place.
 
I've posted more extensive comments on my blog
<http://jeffhenry.ca/2014/04/costco-and-the-west-side/> , including
information about what you can do to stay informed about the progress of the
traffic analysis and any future Council decision points related to the
conditions noted above. Getting the transportation solution right will also
help protect the Wilmot Line, as we have always commited to do.
 
I appreciated all of the input that I received on this important issue -- as
I noted at the Council meeting, the engagement of our community is critical
to building a vibrant, prosperous, and inclusive Waterloo.
 
Cheers, Jeff
--
Jeff Henry
Councillor, Ward 6 (Central-Columbia)
City of Waterloo
 
Bus: 519.747.8784
Fax: 519.747.8500
Cell: 519.998.5883
TTY: 1.866.786.3941
email: jeff.henry at waterloo.ca <mailto:jeff.henry at waterloo.ca>
Web: www.waterloo.ca <http://www.waterloo.ca/>
 

From: John Jackson [jjackson at web.ca]
Sent: April 7, 2014 7:26 AM
To: COUNCIL
Subject: Costco Proposal

The Grand River Environmental Network  urges Waterloo City Council to defer
a decision on the Costco proposal and to instead refer it to further open
discussions among the public, Costco, and Council to seek a mutually
satisfactory solution to the issues. Among other items, these discussions
should address the following matters:
1. Possibility of using a different location to avoid problems generated at
this site; 
2. If a suitable alternate site cannot be found, address the following
matters:
> 1. Reduction of the footprint of development to avoid wasting of such a large
> piece of scarce land designated for development by, for example, designing a
> parking system that takes up less space; not including additional commercial
> developments; deleting plans for a gas bar, etc.;
> 2. Protection of the groundwater recharge area  by avoiding  contamination
> from the salt that is usually put on commercial roads and parking lots;
> 3. Protection of the municipal water supply by designing site to have pervious
> surfaces and rainwater collection systems from roofs, etc., that allow the
> water to infiltrate back into the groundwater system;
> 4. Avoiding traffic delays and conflicts on Erb St. with traffic to Region¹s
> waste facilities, and
> 5. Avoiding air pollution problems generated by traffic;
> 6. Ensuring easy, convenient access by walkers and transit users;
> 7. Avoiding impacts on the Laurel Creek Headwaters Environmentally Sensitive
> Landscape and unnecessary traffic on the Wilmot Line.
> 8. Optimizing environmental excellence in design by meeting a LEED standard
> (as has already been achieved by Costco at a New Jersey location), and aim for
> superior aesthetic quality of the facility.

Greg Michalenko, a GREN secretary, will be appearing on our behalf at your
meeting this evening.

John Jackson

-- 
John Jackson
Chair, Grand River Environmental Network
17 Major Street
Kitchener, Ontario N2H 4R1
519-744-7503


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