<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Re: [All] Waterloo Council Delays Costco to Address Community Concerns!</TITLE></HEAD>
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<DIV>Is there a different, much more sensible location for the Costco that many
people, I understand, want? If there is, maybe that should be the battle. From
my distant view in Woolwich, it strikes me that Costco around here somewhere
likely can’t be stopped, but perhaps the negatives mitigated by a different
spot.</DIV>
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<DIV>Just a question from someone who knows way less about the issue than most
of you. I’d like it gone, but if Costco must come... is there a location? I’m in
favor of fighting losing battles when necessary, but as I age, I’m getting
picky about which ones. If there’s no other ok Costco location, I’ll sign on
happily to the desperate cause against it altogether. </DIV>
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<DIV>Any possibilities? </DIV>
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<DIV>Many, many thanks to all of you who have done the work. </DIV>
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<DIV>Susan B. </DIV>
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<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=jjackson@web.ca
href="mailto:jjackson@web.ca">John Jackson</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, April 08, 2014 8:23 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=deswid@gmail.com href="mailto:deswid@gmail.com">Deb
Swidrovich</A> ; <A title=eleanor7000@gmail.com
href="mailto:eleanor7000@gmail.com">Eleanor Grant</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Cc:</B> <A title=all@gren.ca href="mailto:all@gren.ca">GREN</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: [All] Waterloo Council Delays Costco to Address
Community Concerns!</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV
style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'><FONT
face="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">And I
add to Deb’s concerns that the decision on whether – actually on when - to
proceed will not be made by council, but by a civil servant. Council is now off
the hook. This is not the way that an important community decision should be
made.<BR><BR>John <BR><BR><BR>On 14-04-08 7:40 PM, "Deb Swidrovich" <<A
href="wlmailhtml:deswid@gmail.com">wlmailhtml:deswid@gmail.com</A>>
wrote:<BR><BR></SPAN></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">As I
see it, City of Waterloo councillors tried to appease everyone:<BR><BR>- last
night's approval of the zone change essentially is an approval of a Costco at
that location (because of the way the big box store designation was written
into the City's official plan; it was almost hand written for Costco) which
they likely thought would keep the Costco people from running to the OMB<BR>-
this allows the Rice Group (owners of the property) to move ahead with the
land augmentation (SWM ponds, etc.) (a condition of the land swap that was
heard before this Costco application) thinking it would keep them at bay<BR>-
it addresses some of our concerns that we brought forward about the need for
an integrated traffic analysis, public consultation, etc. so that we don't run
to the OMB<BR>- it makes it easier for councillors during their campaigns who
can tell their constituents that they approved Costco (for those who want it);
but they've put everything on hold until the traffic analysis and road
improvements are done (for those who are concerned about traffic or don't want
to see it at that location), and that Costco may go away if the studies take
too long (for those who don't want it at all)<BR>- the politicking has
already begun with the Region blaming the City for the traffic problems and
the City blaming the Region (Karen Scian, City councillor who presented the
motion will be running against Sean Strickland and Jane Mitchell this
term). There's already a discussion on CTV about the cost, who will pay,
and whether the Regional roads can be upgraded before 2020.<BR><BR>I would
have preferred:<BR>- a deferral<BR>- had they not approved the zoning we might
have had a chance to remove the big box store designation from the Official
Plan based on traffic issues; now it is embedded in the Plan<BR>- I have the
same concerns as Eleanor that we will not have representation on the task
force under the Commissioner of Integrated Planning and Public Works, or have
much influence in the final say other than responding to another report from
staff that could recommend that Costco or another big box store be approved at
that location (Kevin is aware of this as well)<BR><BR>I am still concerned
that:<BR>- we will have gridlock<BR>- the Laurel Creek ESL will not be
protected<BR>- that the Wilmot Line will suffer<BR><BR>We do have another kick
at the can which is what we have to work with now. Time will tell.
<BR><BR>We will continue to push to be included.<BR><BR><BR>Deb
Swidrovich<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT
face="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><BR><BR>On Tue, Apr 8, 2014 at 5:25 PM, Eleanor Grant
<<A
href="wlmailhtml:eleanor7000@gmail.com">wlmailhtml:eleanor7000@gmail.com</A>>
wrote:<BR></SPAN></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE><FONT face="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><BR>Kevin - friend - if you could take off those
rose-coloured glasses for a minute:)<BR><BR>Costco is APPROVED. Only
Mark Whaley voted against that. Nothing else can go on that land
now. The pressure to speed up the study will be enormous.<BR><BR>Who
is this Commissioner of Integrated Planning and Public Works? Can s/he
be trusted not to approve a transportation report that's as big a joke as
the one presented last night by staffer Joel Kotter (that you were shaking
your head all the way through)? It's the Commissioner that has to be
satisfied, not the people.<BR><BR>There don't exist any transportation
solutions that could accommodate the thing. If the study did its job
it would conclude that. But it won't. We'll end up with a
half-baked outcome that DOESN'T protect Wilmot Line and the ESLs, and
DOESN'T keep Erb's Rd an open way between city and township. A lot of
disastrous outcomes ..... <BR><BR>Talk Thurs.<BR><BR>Eleanor<BR><BR>On Apr
8, 2014 4:53 PM, "Kevin Thomason" <<A
href="wlmailhtml:kevinthomason@mac.com">wlmailhtml:kevinthomason@mac.com</A>>
wrote:<BR></SPAN></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE><FONT face="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Wow! I'm thrilled to let you know that at
last night's Council meeting, Waterloo City Councillors listened to our
community and voted to delay the proposed West side Waterloo Costco
development to undertake a detailed study of traffic issues (vehicle,
cycling, and pedestrian), involve the community in proper public
engagement, and implement the required transportation infrastructure
before allowing Costco to proceed.<BR><BR>Congratulations and thank you to
everyone (including a significant number of GREN folks) throughout our
community who spoke up and expressed concerns about this proposed
high-volume, big-box development. Fourteen delegations from
Waterloo, Wilmot, and Kitchener did a great job presenting a myriad of
issues to City Council. Costco Vice-President Jeff Ishida tried to
address several areas of concern however, it was clear that many
unanswered questions remained.<BR><BR>It was amazing how delegations
presented a broad spectrum of community concerns including traffic,
financial, environmental, landfill, EMS, and cultural issues during the
four hour long meeting. Community members made it clear that
Waterloo would not succeed in the future if our city faced serious
congestion and gridlock daily, neighbourhoods were compromised, and rare
environmentally sensitive lands that have been protected through decades
of efforts were overwhelmed by traffic.<BR><BR>City Staff and consultants
did their best to defend Costco's development plans and their
recommendations to proceed immediately, however even after hours of
discussion there were too many unanswered questions, too many vague
responses, and too many outstanding issues - including considerable
concerns about the lack of public engagement on this large development
proposal that stood to negatively affect so many people.<BR><BR>The
standing room-only crowd filling the Council Chambers heard the Mayor and
nearly every City Councillor speak about their serious concerns with this
proposed Costco and the predicted impacts to the West side. In the
end, Councillors voted against their own City Staff recommendation and
sent a clear message that only after outstanding issues are addressed, and
solutions have been found, completed, and are fully in place, would the
Costco development be permitted to proceed.<BR><BR><B>The Approved
Motion<BR><BR></B>Specifically, the complete holding provision motion
introduced by Councillor Karen Scian, places the entire Costco store, gas
bar and surrounding development on hold until:<BR>a) An integrated
multi-modal traffic analysis (including existing and planned development)
has been completed and accepted to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of
Integrated Planning and Public works;<BR>b) Public open houses and
engagement has been held regarding the integrated traffic plan; and,<BR>c)
That the necessary transportation improvements have been
completed.<BR><BR>The funding and study is to begin in 2014, will involve
co-ordination between local and regional governments, and is expected to
ensure the protection of vulnerable neighbourhoods and environmental
areas.<BR><BR><B>Community Engagement<BR><BR></B>It has been incredible to
see how quickly and strongly our community rallied in recent days upon
learning the full details about Costco's proposal and the ensuing issues -
particularly the severe traffic congestion forecast over such a large
area. While most people in Waterloo would like to see a Costco
warehouse store in our city, the proposed Erb St. W. location listed in
the City Official Plan has proved to be an incredibly constrained and
challenging site. Few could fathom that such a massive Costco
drawing an estimated 5,500 cars/day would be built on only a two lane road
with no other accesses or road infrastructure for up to four years in such
an already congested area.<BR><BR>Councillor Scian reported receiving more
than 350 e-mails in the past week alone on this development
proposal. Neighbourhood associations, community groups, and citizens
met with Staff and Councillors to try to understand forecasted impacts,
and last week on very short notice Costco Executives and consultants flew
from Virginia and Ottawa to meet with representatives from area
neighbourhood associations to better understand our concerns. Costco
has a global reputation for being a responsible corporate citizen and an
excellent employer. So far our experience with their team reflects
this excellence. I am optimistic that Costco and its
developers/consultants will work with our community, City Staff, and
Councillors to find the needed solutions and best path
forward.<BR><BR><B>Thank You and Next Steps<BR><BR></B>Thank you to
everyone, every group, neighbourhood association, and organization that
took the time to learn about this development proposal, it's forecasted
impacts, and spoke up with concerns. Our city leaders have responded
and we now have a unique opportunity to pause and reflect on the current
state of the West side of Waterloo. We have a chance to envision the
future and develop a plan that will create the community that we
want. <BR><BR>We need to be innovative, creative and
visionary. With a limited land supply remaining we must carefully
consider the future - what we want the Westside to become, how we want to
travel, how much congestion is acceptable, and what our legacy will be for
future generations.<BR><BR>At this point it is too early to say how long
it will take to develop and implement this plan to address the community's
concerns. It will likely take several months to complete the
integrated plan and perhaps several years before all the solutions and
infrastructure can be put into place before Costco and the surrounding
developments can proceed.<BR><BR>Please share any thoughts or ideas on how
we can develop a world-class plan for the West side. Congratulations
again, to everyone who sent letters, attended meetings, talked with
neighbours, and worked so hard to help ensure the best possible future for
our
community.<BR><BR>Kevin.<BR><BR>-------------------------------------<BR><BR>Kevin
Thomason<BR><BR>1115 Cedar Grove Road<BR>Waterloo, Ontario Canada
N2J 3Z4<BR><BR>Phone: (519) 888-0519 <tel:%28519%29%20888-0519>
<BR>Mobile Phone: (519) 240-1648 <tel:%28519%29%20240-1648>
<BR>Twitter: @kthomason<BR>E-mail: <A
href="wlmailhtml:kevinthomason@mac.com">wlmailhtml:kevinthomason@mac.com</A><BR><BR>-----------------------------------------<BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>All
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<BR>John Jackson<BR>17 Major Street<BR>Kitchener, Ontario N2H
4R1<BR>519-744-7503<BR><BR></SPAN></FONT>
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