<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">GREN Folks,<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">The surprises continue in Wilmot Township regarding this Christmas Eve MZO as finally at 6:30pm tonight Wilmot released their Staff Report which is a staggering 158 pages in length (quite something to whip up over the holidays!).</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">It’s clear that despite Wilmot Councillors claims of knowing nothing about it, some people have been working on it for quite some time which makes the timing of the announcement on Christmas Eve, the lack of public information until tonight, the rushed January 4th Special Council Meeting, etc. even more concerning.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class="">The report cites a staggering 1,200 residential homes for these two properties though a mixed-multiuse development and even somehow a transit hub in a new completely new town called Wilmot Village between Baden and New Hamburg.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">As feared Wilmot Staff are supportive of the MZO and spend numerous pages of the Staff Report trying to justify the developments and the MZO as good planning.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">While these might be interesting developments they need to be determined through proper planning processes and not crammed through in an MZO over the holidays such little time for public consultation, questions, and feedback.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I have attached PDF’s of the agenda and the Wilmot Staff Reports below. There are numerous supporting files that can be found at the following link:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://calendar.wilmot.ca/townshipcalendar/Detail/2022-01-04-1700-Special-Council-Meeting/80905f16-b383-49f1-b11f-ae0d016b0363" class="">https://calendar.wilmot.ca/townshipcalendar/Detail/2022-01-04-1700-Special-Council-Meeting/80905f16-b383-49f1-b11f-ae0d016b0363</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">This MZO could have region-wide implications as it’s approval could unleash an avalanche of similar MZO requests from every developer and municipality looking to bypass the Regional Official Plan Review planning process currently underway for 2021 to 2051 and have Minister Clark approve any development they desire - regardless of the consequences or ultimate cost.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">There is still the overarching question here of whether putting thousands of new homes on remote Wilmot prime farmland far from most jobs and the much of the Region is good planning or not - particularly in the face of our climate crisis where we know we must be more sustainable. Let alone all the issues of leapfrog development, the absurd Christmas Eve MZO approach here, the very troubling timing, lack of information, sewage and water capacity in the Nith River watershed, proximity to a chemical fertilizer plant, etc.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">The need for people to speak up, e-mail Wilmot Councillors, and Staff, and appear as delegations virtually on January 4th is more important than ever. We need to ensure that MZO’s aren’t acceptable in our community and that we have integrated, co-ordinated and collaborative future planning across our Region. Contact information and registration information is below.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Please let me know any questions or ideas.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Thanks,</div><div class="">Kevin.</div></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">-----------------------------------</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class=""><b class="">1) Wilmot Special Council Meeting Agenda - January 4, 2022</b></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""></div></div></body></html>