[All] Regional Official Plan Options Decided By More Councils This Week

Sun Jun 12 13:27:03 EDT 2022

Good Day,

Municipalities across Waterloo Region continue to deliberate and decide on the proposed Growth Scenario’s for the 2051 Regional Official Plan Update.  Responding to concerns from almost everyone involved, the Region of Waterloo has postponed the June 15th meeting where the Preferred Growth Scenario was to be announced until June 22nd - allowing municipalities more time to hold meetings, hear from delegations, and respond to the Region.

Upcoming meetings include:

1) City of Kitchener - has scheduled their fourth meeting to decide their feedback to the Region for tomorrow (Monday, June 13th) from 10:00am to 12:30pm.  There is a new Staff Report (attached below) and currently two competing motions on the floor - a motion from Councillors Davey and Singh that appears to advocate for affordable housing but is really asking for greenfield expansion, farmland loss, an adjustment of the Countryside Line, and additional population allocation that could be devastating to Kitchener’s current path of intensification and core renewal by dragging Kitchener backwards to be the only municipality advocating for the absurd sprawl it receives under Option #1.  

Thankfully, Councillor Chapman has a motion based on the good principles of our Option #4 advocating for Kitchener to continue on its current sustainability and Smart Growth trajectory to ensure Climate Change goals are achieved.  If you are a Kitchener resident please write your Councillors to ensure that they support Councillor Chapman’s motion and ensure Kitchener remains a leader in the province, not abandoning recent success for hundreds or thousands of acres of farmland loss and unsustainable sprawl on important ecological and groundwater lands.

2) City of Waterloo Meeting - begins at 2:00pm tomorrow (Monday, June 13th) - City Staff have written an excellent Report that advocates for continuing to stay within their boundaries, sustainable intensification, and Smart Growth leadership.  We need to ensure the City of Waterloo continues their visionary leadership and helps to encourage the Region of Waterloo to aim higher with a similar model of no farmland loss for the entire region.  City of Waterloo residents should write to applaud their Council's actions and encourage them to lead future bold and visionary actions.

3) Wilmot Township’s - third Council Meeting on the ROP begins on Monday (June 13th) at 7:00pm.  They won’t be allowing any delegations as deliberations continue on Councillor Hallman’s motion building upon the recommendations of the Wilmot Staff Report.  It remains to be seen if Councillor Hallman’s report which includes many of the principles of Option #4, a focus on intensification, and limiting farmland loss will have enough support to be approved.  It is possible that Wilmot may not provide any feedback to the Region at this point which would be unfortunate since Wilmot citizens should have a voice in the future we want to see.  If you are a Wilmot resident please call or e-mail all Wilmot Councillors and Mayor Armstrong in support of Councillor Hallman’s motion and the sustainable principles we need for the future.

4) June 22nd Regional Meeting - at the 1:00pm afternoon meeting of the Planning and Works Committee on June 22nd, Regional Staff will release the Recommended Growth Option that will determine so much of the future approach of the Region of Waterloo for the next 30 years.  This meeting is open to delegations and depending on the growth option chosen we may need a very strong voice from the community to better guide things - similar to what happened in Hamilton and Halton where Councillors chose more progressive plans than what their Staff was recommending.  Hopefully, the Region of Waterloo will announce bold, visionary outcomes though we will have to see and be prepared to respond accordingly.

Other Recent Council Decisions Include:

5) Woolwich Township - Despite 13 delegations from developers it was fantastic to see Woolwich Councillors on June 6th decide against their Staff Recommendation for Option #2 and considerable greenfield expansion/farmland loss and instead drafted a motion consistent with the principles of Option #4 for no farmland loss, higher intensification, more complete communities, more time, and more consultation/engagement.  Every single Councillor cited the climate and food crisis and the fact that they just can’t justify destroying farmland anymore despite the hundreds of acres of expansion they were being offered by the Region in Option #2.  

It sends a tremendous message of sustainability and the need for a better future to see the municipality being offered almost half of all greenfield farmland for expansion for the entire Region in Option #2, reject it and unanimously declare that a more sustainable plan for future is required.  Kudos to everyone in Woolwich who wrote, spoke up, and delegated - the tremendous outcome in Woolwich shows just what is possible when there is a well informed Council and lots of citizen input.

6) North Dumfries Township - Despite strong delegations and a very impressive presentation from their CAO, North Dumfries Councillors chose to stick with their Staff Recommendation for Option #2 that would see a minor amount (59ha) of farmland loss for growth over the next 30 years.  We tried to advocate for less farmland loss, rehabilitating gravel pits for employment lands, and intensification.  However one Councillor seemed to sum it up the best - that with almost every acre of farmland in the Township already targetted for aggregates, losing farmland to housing would be a welcome change and they were bound to lose it one way or another.

7) Cambridge - The City of Cambridge Staff have decided not to issue a Staff Report or bring anything to their Council and that Cambridge Councillors and citizens can let the Region know directly the Growth Option that they want to see.  It is unfortunate to see the important discussions happening in other municipalities not happening in Cambridge.

8) Wellesley Township - this past week at their second Special Council Meeting on the ROP passed an excellent updated Staff Report with an increased focus on intensification, higher densities, less farmland loss (only 20ha over 30 years), and integrated many principles of Option #4.  It was great to see the impact of all the Wellesley citizens who spoke up and advocated for a better future vision that their community now has.  Well done!

Please share any questions or ideas.  It is important that we continue to speak up for the future that we want to see - particularly in the municipalities that have yet to respond to the Region where letters, calls and e-mails to Councillors could make all the difference.  

We will have to see what Growth Option is recommended by Regional Staff on June 22nd and work with Regional Councillors accordingly.

We have had a tremendous impact getting more progressive outcomes already.  Hopefully we will have a visionary 30 year Regional Official Plan that will ensure we continue our leadership towards a far more sustainable future.

Cheers,
Kevin.

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

1) City of Kitchener - Second ROP Staff Report incorporating excellent public feedback:

Kitchener Council Contact Information

Berry Vrbanovic (Mayor, Kitchener) - mayor at kitchener.ca <mailto:mayor at kitchener.ca>
Scott Davey (Councillor, Kitchener Ward 1) - scott.davey at kitchener.ca <mailto:scott.davey at kitchener.ca>
Dave Schnider (Councillor, Kitchener Ward 2) - dave.schnider at kitchener.ca <mailto:dave.schnider at kitchener.ca>
John Gazzola (Councillor, Kitchener Ward 3)- john.gazzola at kitchener.ca <mailto:john.gazzola at kitchener.ca>
Christine Michaud (Councillor, Kitchener Ward 4) - christine.michaud at kitchener.ca <mailto:christine.michaud at kitchener.ca>
Kelly Galloway-Sealock (Councillor, Kitchener Ward 5) - kelly.galloway-sealock at kitchener.ca <mailto:kelly.galloway-sealock at kitchener.ca>
Paul Singh (Councillor, Kitchener Ward 6) - paul.singh at kitchener.ca <mailto:paul.singh at kitchener.ca>
Bil Ioannidis (Councillor, Kitchener Ward 7) - bil.ioannidis at kitchener.ca <mailto:bil.ioannidis at kitchener.ca>
Margaret Johnston (Councillor, Kitchener Ward 8) - councillor.johnston at kitchener.ca <mailto:councillor.johnston at kitchener.ca>
Debbie Chapman (Councillor, Kitchener Ward 9) - debbie.chapman at kitchener.ca <mailto:debbie.chapman at kitchener.ca>
Sarah Marsh (Councillor, Kitchener Ward 10) - sarah.marsh at kitchener.ca <mailto:sarah.marsh at kitchener.ca>

2) City of Waterloo Staff Report

Dave Jaworsky (Mayor, Waterloo) - mayor at waterloo.ca <mailto:mayor at waterloo.ca>
Sandra Hanmer (Councillor, Waterloo Ward 1) - sandra.hanmer at waterloo.ca <mailto:sandra.hanmer at waterloo.ca>
Royce Bodaly (Councillor, Waterloo Ward 2) - royce.bodaly at waterloo.ca <mailto:royce.bodaly at waterloo.ca>
Angela Vieth (Councillor, Waterloo Ward 3) - angela.vieth at waterloo.ca <mailto:angela.vieth at waterloo.ca>
Diane Freeman (Councillor, Waterloo Ward 4) - diane.freeman at waterloo.ca <mailto:diane.freeman at waterloo.ca>
Jen Vasic (Councillor, Waterloo Ward 5) - jen.vasic at waterloo.ca <mailto:jen.vasic at waterloo.ca>
Jeff Henry (Councillor, Waterloo Ward 6) - jeff.henry at waterloo.ca <mailto:jeff.henry at waterloo.ca>
Tenille Bonoguore (Councillor, Waterloo Ward 7) - tenille.bonoguore at waterloo.ca <mailto:tenille.bonoguore at waterloo.ca>

3) Wilmot Township Staff Report

Les Armstong (Mayor, Wilmot) - les.armstrong at wilmot.ca <mailto:les.armstrong at wilmot.ca>
Angie Hallman (Councillor, Ward 1) - angie.hallman at wilmot.ca <mailto:angie.hallman at wilmot.ca>
Cheryl Gordijk (Councillor, Ward 2) - cheryl.gordijk at wilmot.ca <mailto:cheryl.gordijk at wilmot.ca>
Barry Fisher (Councillor, Ward 3) - barry.fisher at wilmot.ca <mailto:barry.fisher at wilmot.ca>
Jeff Gerber (Councillor, Ward 4) - jeff.gerber at wilmot.ca <mailto:jeff.gerber at wilmot.ca>

4) Community Proposed Option #4 - Full Document

5) Community Proposed Option #4 - Summary Document

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

Kevin Thomason

1115 Cedar Grove Road
Waterloo, Ontario Canada  N2J 3Z4

Phone: (519) 888-0519
Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648
Twitter: @kthomason
E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com

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

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: Kevin Thomason <kevinthomason at mac.com>
> Subject: [All] Regional Official Plan More Important Than Ever
> Date: June 3, 2022 at 11:44:22 AM EDT
> To: "Grand River Environmental Network (GREN)" <all at gren.ca>
> 
> Good morning,
> 
> I realize that the election outcome is extremely disappointing to most GREN members, it makes it even more important that we get the best possible Regional Official Plan outcomes in the next few weeks - particularly since most climate change actions and impact happens at the local level.  Look at what progressive cities and communities are doing in the US despite awful state and federal governments.  Lets ensure we put all our frustrations, energy and effort into creating the bold, visionary ROP we are going to need for the decades ahead.
> 
> Municipalities across the Region continue to issue Staff Reports and hold Council meetings to respond to the Region with their preferred Growth Option by June 7th.
> 
> Unfortunately, the pattern we are seeing in every Council Chamber so far is that municipal staff don’t have the information they need to make a recommendation to Council or feel that the 3 options put forth by the Region are so flawed that they can not recommend any of them.  Angry, poorly informed Councillors are then left struggling on very tight timelines to try to determine their future for the next 30 years and after hours of deliberations time runs out and they then schedule a new emergency Council meeting to happen within days to try to meet the regional deadline.
> 
> Kevin Eby, Mark Reusser, and myself have been at every meeting presenting the Community Option #4 as a superior path forward that has no farmland loss and goes the furthest to create the sustainable communities we need.  We need to continue to ensure that there is a strong citizen voice at these municipal meetings speaking about climate concerns, farmland loss and sustainability so Councillors know the future that our community wants to see.  Letters, e-mails and some delegations are very important and made all the difference in getting Wellesley Councillors to vote unanimously against their Staff Recommendation for Option #2 to breach the Countryside Line and pave over prime farmland for development.
> 
> Around the region things are unfolding as follows:
> 
> 	1) Woolwich Township - Council Meeting this coming Monday, June 6th at 7pm - Staff Report (below) is recommending Option #2 with hundreds of acres of farmland loss.  We need letters to Councillors and some delegations (need to register asap)
> 
> 	2) Wellesley Township - Special ROP Council Meeting is Tuesday, June 7th at 6:45pm in response to their first Council meeting and rejected Staff Report, a new Staff Report is coming forward in Wellesley and Councillors will try a second time.  Once we see the new Staff report (presumably later today) we will need to respond accordingly.
> 
> 	3) City of Kitchener - Special ROP Council Meeting is Wednesday, June 8th at 7:00pm following up their first Council meeting.  Deliberations will continue on two motions on the table - one from Councillor Scott Davey and Councillor Paul Singh calling for more farmland loss, breaching the Countryside Line, and requesting 50,000 more population from the province the other motion from Councillor Debbie Chapman advocating for Option #4 and it’s principles of sustainability.  We need people to reach out to Councillors expressing concerns about Councillor Davey’s motion and support for Councillor Chapman’s motion.
> 
> 	4) City of Waterloo - Their Staff report (below) has been issued a week early for their Monday, June 13th 7:00pm Council meeting.  It is an impressive report expressing desire for more sustainable growth and intensification within urban areas and concerns about too much density targetted for close proximity to environmental areas.  Waterloo Councillors need to hear how Option #4 is congruent with their Staff report and is the Option they need to be promoting for the entire Region.
> 
> 	5) Wilmot Township - Second Council Meeting on the ROP Response is planned for Monday, June 13th at 7:00pm.  We need to work with Wilmot Councillors to have them help support an excellent motion put on the floor by Councillor Angie Hallman based on Option #4.  Delegations aren’t likely allowed but letters and calls to Councillors are going to be important to get all Councillors onside.
> 
> 	6) City of Cambridge - Astoundingly has decided that it isn’t going to do a Staff Report and are not going to bring things to Cambridge Council giving their Councillors and citizens no opportunity to respond to the ROP other than by going directly to the region with letters or at future meetings.  This is going to come as a surprise to some Cambridge Councillors I’ve spoken to who are clearly expecting a Staff Report and process similar to other municipalities.
> 
> 	7) North Dumfries - No response to inquiries.  Please let me know if you can learn anything about what is happening in North Dumfries.
> 
> 
> There is a good article in today’s Record as they finally start to cover the importance of the ROP and report on things: https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2022/06/02/waterloo-regions-official-plan-update-aims-to-balance-building-new-homes-while-protecting-the-countryside-line.html <https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2022/06/02/waterloo-regions-official-plan-update-aims-to-balance-building-new-homes-while-protecting-the-countryside-line.html>
> 
> Regional Staff will be presenting their recommended Growth Option based on feedback to Regional Council on June 15th.
> 
> Channel your election frustrations into the local planning we need for the future.  It is more important than ever that we get the bold, visionary ROP required.  Please to reach out to Councillors in your municipality to talk to them about the Regional Official Plan and the future that you want to see.
> 
> Thanks,
> Kevin.
> 
> ------------------------
> 
> 1) Summary of Option #4
> 
> 
> 2) Woolwich Staff Report and Council Agenda
> 
> 
> 3) City of Waterloo Staff Report
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 4) Today’s Record Article
> 
> https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2022/06/02/waterloo-regions-official-plan-update-aims-to-balance-building-new-homes-while-protecting-the-countryside-line.html <https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2022/06/02/waterloo-regions-official-plan-update-aims-to-balance-building-new-homes-while-protecting-the-countryside-line.html>
> 
> 
> -------------------------------------
> 
> Kevin Thomason
> 
> 1115 Cedar Grove Road
> Waterloo, Ontario Canada  N2J 3Z4
> 
> Phone: (519) 888-0519
> Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648
> Twitter: @kthomason
> E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com <mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>
> 
> -----------------------------------------

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