<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Hello GREN Members,<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">A reminder that this coming Tuesday, Nov 9th around 12:30pm will be the Staff presentation to Waterloo Regional Council on their concerning Preferred Growth Scenarios until 2051.<br class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">This is a critical point in the update of our Regional Official Plan (ROP). Over the next few weeks Regional Councillors and Mayors will be deciding how much growth will be accommodated in our urban areas, how much farmland will be permitted to be destroyed for development, what levels of intensification we will strive for, and many other important decisions that will determine where and how our community will grow, what we will protect, how we get around, and many other aspects of the future of Waterloo Region.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">There was a fantastic Zoom planning meeting of more than 40 leaders and members from community groups this past Friday evening where there was broad consensus that:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Scenario #2 being recommended by Staff falls far short of is needed and all three Scenarios are insufficient to address our climate crisis,</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- we need to loudly speak up for a more ambitious and visionary Regional Official Plan,</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- our intensification rate needs to be at least 70% to 80%,</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- we need better employment land targets that reflect better industrial intensification efforts,</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- there needs to be far less farmland loss and no threat to the Countryside Line,</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- we must protect our water recharge areas and not target them for development (as preliminary LNA plans are),</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- there must be far more public engagement and consultation.</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> </div><div class="">Greg Michalenko has volunteered to delegate on Tuesday on behalf of GREN. I will be delegating for Smart Growth Waterloo Region. Hopefully, you will be able to either delegate representing yourself or other community organization, or watch the Council Livestream on Tuesday at <a href="https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/regional-government/live-webcast.aspx" class="">https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/regional-government/live-webcast.aspx</a>, as well as write and phone Councillors speaking up for the future that you would like to see.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I am attaching an Action Sheet below with easy links for registering, e-mailing Councillors, and learning more.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Also, GREN is teaming up with 50x30WR, Hold the Line Waterloo Region, the Nith Valley Ecoboosters, Smart Growth Waterloo Region, and other community groups to host a webinar on the ROP Update on Monday, November 15th. You can register to participate in this virtual online Zoom event at: <a href="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/community-webinar-on-growth-plan-for-waterloo-region-tickets-204795658327" class="">https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/community-webinar-on-growth-plan-for-waterloo-region-tickets-204795658327</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Please share any questions or ideas. Hopefully we can get Regional Council to direct Staff to return with better alternatives and we can help guide our community in a better direction with a bolder, more ambitious Regional Official Plan.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Sincerely,</div><div class="">Kevin.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">------------------------------------</div><div class=""></div></div></body></html>