[All] Letter in Waterloo Record form GREN member Susan Fulop

[Henriette Thompson]

I take some issue with Susan Fulop's claim that: "City bylaws, zoning and
heritage designations are in place to protect green space, residential
homes, neighbourhoods and historically important buildings." While that is
somewhat true, zoning began as a mechanism for protecting property rights
and excluding undesirable people. We need to ensure that zoning also
secures the right of every resident to safe, affordable housing.

Today, there is a growing list of 6,000 individuals and families in
Waterloo Region who are waiting for adequate and affordable housing. WR's
strategy is to intensify housing development within urban spaces before
expanding beyond current boundaries.

We have the knowledge, skills and resources to protect property rights,
meet the critical need for safe, adequate housing, and reduce GHG emissions
in the building development sector. All of these need to be considered and
balanced. That is currently not the case.

Henriette Thompson

On Fri, Oct 30, 2020 at 2:27 PM Susan Bryant <shbryant at uwaterloo.ca> wrote:

> Wonderful letter!
>
> Susan B
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Oct 30, 2020, at 10:02 AM, John Jackson <jjackson at web.ca> wrote:
>
> Letters to the Editor
> <https://www.therecord.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editors.html>
> Opinion
> Councils should listen to all when considering changes
> Thu., Oct. 29, 2020*timer*1 min. read
> *update*Article was updated 22 hrs ago
>
> *Cambridge to review heritage of century home
> <https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2020/10/27/cambridge-to-review-heritage-of-century-home-in-wake-of-redevelopment-proposal.html>
> — Oct. 28*
>
> Has anyone else noticed a pattern with developments in Waterloo Region in
> the last few years?
>
> City bylaws, zoning and heritage designations are in place to protect
> green space, residential homes, neighbourhoods and historically important
> buildings.
>
> A developer approaches a city council and asks that these protections be
> overturned so they can build their development. Groups of concerned
> neighbours, heritage bodies and environmental groups devote a lot of time
> and thought to eloquently express their concerns to council about tearing
> down heritage buildings, removing old trees that will take a hundred years
> to replace and changing the flavour of neighbourhoods.
>
> The city then asks the builder: How high would you like to build?
>
> Cities in the region should listen to the people that will have to live
> with the new developments, and not just the developers.
> Susan FulopKitchener
>
> ------------------------------
> John Jackson
> 17 Major Street
> Kitchener N2H 4R1
> 519-744-7503
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Henriette Thompson

Residing on the traditional lands of the Neutral, Anishinaabe, and
Haudenosaunee peoples and on the Haldimand Tract (1784).
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