<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><title>Update on Status of Waterloo Region's Official Plan in today's Record</title><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Thanks John I missed this one in today’s KWRec. I’ve wondered what stage we were at. I’ll clip it when I get the paper back again. Ginny They also need to stress that there are 2 high recharge areas in that territory being challenged .<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> that we will need for community wells . With the continual immigration of more people to our area we MUST reserve that territory as Lake Erie will not be available to us in 25 yrs or so ..that has been confirmed by the water experts . Ginny <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'> All [mailto:all-bounces@gren.ca] <b>On Behalf Of </b>John Jackson<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, August 26, 2014 8:12 AM<br><b>To:</b> GREN<br><b>Subject:</b> [All] Update on Status of Waterloo Region's Official Plan in today's Record<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:19.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif"'>No progress on regional land dispute<br></span><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#222222'>W</span><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#C5292C'>aterloo Region Record<br></span><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#222222'>B</span><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>y Paige Desmond<br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#5A5A5A'>WATERLOO REGION — More than a year has passed since the Region of Waterloo asked a court to review an Ontario Municipal Board decision that could see as many as 1,053 hectares of land opened up for development here.<br><br>Regional chair Ken Seiling said a court date has not yet been set for the judicial review.<br><br>In the meantime, officials have been trying to settle some issues with developers who challenged the government's planning legislation.<br><br>"There have been discussions with some of the parties as to whether there's ability to settle some of these things, but as of today there are no settlements and we're still waiting to hear on the issues from the board," Seiling said.<br><br>The region announced it would seek a judicial review early in 2013. Later in the year, it alleged bias on the part of the Ontario Municipal Board, which decides land planning disputes. A request of the board to reconsider its decision was refused.<br><br>Several local developers appealed the region's Official Plan after it was approved by politicians in 2010.<br><br>The document dictates land planning rules regionwide to 2031.<br><br>Local government wants to focus growth in city cores and planned to open up about 80 new hectares of greenfield land for development. Developers argued for hundreds more.<br><br>Municipal board officials disagreed with the region and ordered the two sides to negotiate a compromise, endorsing up to 1,053 hectares.<br><br>That set off a fierce battle in the community with anti-sprawl activists, environmentalists, academics and even the province saying the decision flies in the face of provincial growth legislation.<br><br>The region has asked a court to review the procedural fairness of the ruling. It has also asked a court to overturn the ruling because of alleged errors in law.<br><br>Seiling said little progress has been made in the dispute.<br><br>"Anybody's preference always is if you can achieve a settlement without getting before the courts or another full hearing that would be preferable, but that takes everybody willing to come together," he said.<br><br>The allegations of bias centre on an economist who, in 2012, participated in a private education session that municipal board members were required to attend. She also testified on behalf of developers against the region.<br><br>At the time of the education session, the board hadn't decided on the regional official plan dispute where she had testified on behalf of developers.<br><br>Rob Horne, regional planning commissioner, said the board has reserved its decision on whether or not the panel was biased when it presided over the regional decision. Hearings were held in April and June.<br><br>The region's old official plan remains in effect until appeal</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#C5292C'>s are settled.<br><br><br>pdesm</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#5A5A5A'><a href="ond@therecord.com">ond@therecord.com</a> ; Twitter: @DesmondRecord<br></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>-- <br>John Jackson<br>17 Major Street<br>Kitchener, Ontario N2H 4R1<br>519-744-7503</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>