<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Good Afternoon,<div><br></div><div>Many GREN folks have been following the recent ruling by the OMB in favour of developers demanding additional urban sprawl and the subsequent unanimous decision by the Region of Waterloo to appeal this ruling against our Regional Official Plan.</div><div><br></div><div>I have just been sent a copy of a press release below from Environmental Defence that has gone out to the media supporting the Region of Waterloo on their appeal and making clear the potential impact of this disappointing ruling on Waterloo and municipalities across Ontario. You can find a copy here:</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://environmentaldefence.ca/articles/statement-erin-shapero-land-and-water-program-manager-waterloo’s-decision-appeal-omb-ruling">http://environmentaldefence.ca/articles/statement-erin-shapero-land-and-water-program-manager-waterloo’s-decision-appeal-omb-ruling</a></div><div><br></div><div>Hopefully with the strong support of the community, the Region will be successful in this appeal and we will ultimately see our Regional Official Plan approved over the coming months.</div><div><br></div><div>Please feel free to share any ideas on what we can do as a community to ensure that our vision and not judges orders on behalf of developers determines our future.</div><div><br></div><div>Kevin.</div><div><br></div><div><div><div>
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margin-left: 5px; float: right; "><div class="month" style="font-size: 14px; text-transform: uppercase; ">JAN</div><div class="day" style="font-size: 22px; ">30</div><div class="year" style="font-size: 12px; ">2013</div></div><div class="share" style="padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; height: 25px; color: rgb(172, 172, 172); clear: both; display: inline-block; width: 625px; "><div class="shareLabel" style="font-family: 'Gotham Book'; font-size: 16px; padding-right: 10px; float: left; ">Share this on:</div><div class="floatLeft" style="float: left; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://environmentaldefence.ca/articles/statement-erin-shapero-land-and-water-program-manager-waterloo%E2%80%99s-decision-appeal-omb-ruling" class="fbShare" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-image: url(http://environmentaldefence.ca/sites/default/themes/envirod/img/share_icons.png); display: inline-block; width: 21px; height: 20px; background-position: 0px 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=http://environmentaldefence.ca/articles/statement-erin-shapero-land-and-water-program-manager-waterloo%E2%80%99s-decision-appeal-omb-ruling" class="twitterShare" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-image: url(http://environmentaldefence.ca/sites/default/themes/envirod/img/share_icons.png); display: inline-block; width: 21px; height: 20px; background-position: -23px 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "> </a></div><div class="floatRight" style="float: right; "><a href="http://environmentaldefence.ca/printmail/node/6224" class="emailShare" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-image: url(http://environmentaldefence.ca/sites/default/themes/envirod/img/share_icons.png); display: inline-block; width: 21px; height: 20px; background-position: -69px 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "> </a> <a href="http://environmentaldefence.ca/print/node/6224" class="printThis" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-image: url(http://environmentaldefence.ca/sites/default/themes/envirod/img/share_icons.png); display: inline-block; width: 21px; height: 20px; background-position: -92px 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "> </a></div></div><div class="node node-blog" style="clear: both; display: inline-block; font-family: 'Gotham Book'; font-size: 14px; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(172, 172, 172); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(172, 172, 172); padding-top: 25px; padding-bottom: 25px; line-height: 20px; "><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; line-height: 1.3em; ">Toronto, ON -- We applaud the Region of Waterloo’s decision to fight back against last week’s OMB ruling.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; line-height: 1.3em; ">The Region had done the right thing by creating an official plan designed to curb sprawl and build more livable communities, meeting the goals set out by the province in its Places to Grow Act.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; line-height: 1.3em; ">The OMB’s ruling – which overturned parts of the Region’s official plan – is the equivalent of a slap on the wrist for a municipality trying to do exactly what it was asked. The OMB’s ruling rewards those developers that want to keep sprawling, gobbling up prime farmland with cookie cutter developments that already cover much of the landscape in southern Ontario. The OMB ruled that the Region needs to open up over 1,000 hectares of land for low-density sprawl, more than 10 times the area in the official plan.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; line-height: 1.3em; ">The decision could kill the province’s Places to Grow Act, its density targets, timelines and any hope of preventing more urban sprawl in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; line-height: 1.3em; ">The outcome of this hearing, if left unchallenged, could have significant impact across the Greater Golden Horseshoe and beyond. The implications are serious for municipalities and their residents who deserve better from the planning process. </p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; line-height: 1.3em; ">About ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (<a href="http://www.environmentaldefence.ca/" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; ">www.environmentaldefence.ca</a>): Environmental Defence is Canada's most effective environmental action organization. We challenge, and inspire change in government, business and people to ensure a greener, healthier and prosperous life for all.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; line-height: 1.3em; ">-30-</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; line-height: 1.3em; ">For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:<br>Naomi Carniol, Environmental Defence, 416-323-9521 ext. 258; 416-570-2878 (cell)<a href="mailto:ncarniol@environmentaldefence.ca" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; ">ncarniol@environmentaldefence.ca</a></p><div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-campaign-nid"><div class="field-label" style="font-weight: bold; ">Campaign: </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="http://environmentaldefence.ca/issues/protecting-ontarios-greenbelt" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; ">Protecting Ontario's Greenbelt</a></div></div></div></div><div class="taxonomy" style="margin-top: 20px; font-family: 'Gotham Book'; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); ">Topics: <ul class="links inline" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline; "><li class="taxonomy_term_11 first last" style="display: inline; list-style-type: none; padding: 0px 0.5em; "><a href="http://environmentaldefence.ca/taxonomy/term/11" rel="tag" title="" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; ">Press Release</a></li></ul></div></div></div><div><br></div></div></div></body></html>