[All] Reply re the Airport Master Plan meeting

[Eleanor Grant]

(Gord Nicholls' msg is below.)

Gordon, is there any group concerned about how much land in Woolwich twp is
going to be eaten up by the airport?  That's by far my biggest worry.

I also like your point about waiting till the capital portion of the LRT is
paid for.  Note as well on the LRT, that the process is starting this year
for Phase 2 to Cambridge.  All those open houses we had in KW about rail
routes, central corridor dvlt, station area planning, noise impacts - this
all begins now for the Cambridge portion of the route.  For a roll-out in
the early 2020s.  I'm wondering if fed and prov funding will be as
forthcoming for Phase 2 as it was for Phase 1.

If we want to keep faith with Cambridge, it may be important to give
priority to building LRT phase 2 before spending on expanding the airport.

But on the other hand, the capital expenditure they're contemplating for
the airport is much less than for LRT,
AND it would be offset by revenues,
AND it might be of significant importance to Cambridge too,
AND it would be a good thing if transportation could be as multi-modal and
seamless as possible: GO service to Breslau, airport and terminal capacity,
express buses, and LRT, all as part of a whole.

I'm thinking out loud here.  What if the Region said, "We will do Option 3
on airport expansion starting in 2025."  By then there should be trains to
Ainslie and better GO service.  By then we'd also have a better idea where
the economy is headed.

Projecting a date would give everyone a framework for longer-term planning
AND ALSO give activists time to campaign for improved design and
integration for the airport.  (Less parking, car-free access by GO and RT,
stronger local ag sector and better land use planning, Lulu's idea of a
food hub - and maybe even quieter planes.)

Say we'll do it, but kick it down the road till some other things are in
place.  (And if they aren't, we won't go ahead.)

Eleanor
 On Feb 8, 2014 4:58 PM, <gordon.n at sympatico.ca> wrote:

>
>
> ------------------------------
>  Hi Eleanor
> Daph showed me the letter you wrote to Gren folks and I thought you have
> made some good points. She also thought you would be interested in the
> reply I have put together that follows the format they specified in their
> information package. It is attached.
>
> Well it was a very interesting meeting last night when I attended between
> 18:30 and 20:45.
>
> It was a pleasure meeting so many other people who are disturbed about the
> potential impact on our homes and quality of life that will occur with an
> enlarged airport.
>
> If you could not attend the meeting, the information is now available at [
> www.waterlooairport.ca/masterplan ].
>
> It has been  suggested by a friend that it is better to send in our
> comments electronically, because they apparently do not give full attention
> to hand written material.
>
> We are now engaged in a numbers game where it is important the consulting
> team and the airport committee hear from as many people as possible. If you
> have not sent in a reply, please take the time to give your comments.
>
> Attached are the comments I have made in the appropriate categories as
> defined by their special form. It took me a while to set up the format so I
> thought it might be helpful if I shared it.
>
> I have tried to make the following important points spread over the
> several sections in the reply form. If you want more detail about the list
> below, then read the attached document where \I tried to explain each point.
>
> 1. The current SID route for runway #26 must be moved to the east. SID is
> s short form for 'Standard Instrument Departure'.
> 2. WE need between 3 & 5 SID routes for runway #26 and 3 for the Guelph
> runway
> 3. The economic impact o home values is very costly and should be included
> in any economic impact they are presenting
> 4. The loss to the tax base will be about 7% if the real estate fellow is
> correct.
> 5. Quality of life impact must be addressed- both nosie impact and air
> quality impact
> 6. It is essential that the owners of the airport, Waterloo Region,
> introduce a no fly black out time from 23:00 to 07:00
> 7. The Region needs to be more prudent about the large expenditures it is
> planning. The load on the tax base for the LRT does not need to be expanded
> until the new LRT has been paid for. This means we should be prudent re
> both capital spending on an enlarged airport and also on the size and
> length of subsidies granted to airlines.
>
> If you want to use any of this stuff or share it with neighbours , please
> feel free.
>
> I mentioned during the question time that we have started a group to put
> our case before the airport noise committee and also the politicians. At
> this point we represent 5 different sub-divisions. If you want to get
> involved please write back and let me know where you live and whether you
> or your community has an organization that will get involved.
>
> Cheers
>
> Gordon Nicholls
>
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