[All] Update on Status of Waterloo Region's Official Plan in today's Record

[Ginny Quinn]

Thanks  John   I missed this one in today's  KWRec.   I've wondered  what
stage we were at.  I'll clip it  when I get the paper  back again.  Ginny
They  also need to stress that  there are 2 high recharge areas  in that
territory   being challenged  .

  that we will need  for community wells .    With the continual
immigration of  more   people  to  our area  we MUST reserve  that territory
as Lake Erie  will not  be available  to us   in 25 yrs   or  so  ..that has
been  confirmed by the water  experts  .  Ginny  

 

From: All [mailto:all-bounces at gren.ca] On Behalf Of John Jackson
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2014 8:12 AM
To: GREN
Subject: [All] Update on Status of Waterloo Region's Official Plan in
today's Record

 

No progress on regional land dispute
Waterloo Region Record
By Paige Desmond
WATERLOO REGION - More than a year has passed since the Region of Waterloo
asked a court to review an Ontario Municipal Board decision that could see
as many as 1,053 hectares of land opened up for development here.

Regional chair Ken Seiling said a court date has not yet been set for the
judicial review.

In the meantime, officials have been trying to settle some issues with
developers who challenged the government's planning legislation.

"There have been discussions with some of the parties as to whether there's
ability to settle some of these things, but as of today there are no
settlements and we're still waiting to hear on the issues from the board,"
Seiling said.

The region announced it would seek a judicial review early in 2013. Later in
the year, it alleged bias on the part of the Ontario Municipal Board, which
decides land planning disputes. A request of the board to reconsider its
decision was refused.

Several local developers appealed the region's Official Plan after it was
approved by politicians in 2010.

The document dictates land planning rules regionwide to 2031.

Local government wants to focus growth in city cores and planned to open up
about 80 new hectares of greenfield land for development. Developers argued
for hundreds more.

Municipal board officials disagreed with the region and ordered the two
sides to negotiate a compromise, endorsing up to 1,053 hectares.

That set off a fierce battle in the community with anti-sprawl activists,
environmentalists, academics and even the province saying the decision flies
in the face of provincial growth legislation.

The region has asked a court to review the procedural fairness of the
ruling. It has also asked a court to overturn the ruling because of alleged
errors in law.

Seiling said little progress has been made in the dispute.

"Anybody's preference always is if you can achieve a settlement without
getting before the courts or another full hearing that would be preferable,
but that takes everybody willing to come together," he said.

The allegations of bias centre on an economist who, in 2012, participated in
a private education session that municipal board members were required to
attend. She also testified on behalf of developers against the region.

At the time of the education session, the board hadn't decided on the
regional official plan dispute where she had testified on behalf of
developers.

Rob Horne, regional planning commissioner, said the board has reserved its
decision on whether or not the panel was biased when it presided over the
regional decision. Hearings were held in April and June.

The region's old official plan remains in effect until appeals are settled.


pdesmond at therecord.com ; Twitter: @DesmondRecord
-- 
John Jackson
17 Major Street
Kitchener, Ontario N2H 4R1
519-744-7503

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