<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="">Congratulations to everyone who has written, e-mailed, called, delegated, attended, and spoken up for the future that they want to see. Early Thursday Evening the Regional Planning and Works Committee (which is comprised of all the members of Regional Council) voted 12 to 2 to approve and endorse the amendments as recommended by Regional Staff for the Regional Official Plan from 2022 to 2051.<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">This is a tremendous achievement for our community to see this bold and visionary plan initially approved. It will now go to full Regional Council next week (August 18th) for a final approval vote.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">It was very unfortunate to see the Chambers of Commerce along with developers and land speculators oppose the ROP and request that the Premier and Minister of Municipal Affairs intervene to override the ROP and destroy more farmland for additional sprawl development. It remains to be seen how this will unfold and both Councillor Mike Harris and North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton voting against the best public interest and the ROP - siding with the developers seeking unjustified and unneeded sprawl for profit instead. Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic also was critical of Regional Staff and very supportive of the sprawl advocating developers but voted in favour of the ROP possibly fearing the public backlash knowing how much strong support this innovative ROP has with citizens across the Region and an election pending.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">You can read about the meeting in today’s Record article:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2022/08/11/waterloo-region-councillors-set-to-debate-and-expected-to-vote-on-30-year-growth-plan.html" class="">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2022/08/11/waterloo-region-councillors-set-to-debate-and-expected-to-vote-on-30-year-growth-plan.html</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">With such a strong climate change focus, 15 minute communities, more intensification, more housing choice, more affordability, better public transportation, and so many other progressive elements it will be fantastic to see how this ROP will transform our community over the decades ahead.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Please continue to call and write Regional Councillors and Mayors in support of the Regional Official Plan over the next week as we approach the final vote on August 18th. While they won’t be allowing any delegations at the final meeting, written submissions are being encouraged. We shouldn't underestimate the efforts and determination of those opposing this progressive plan we need for a sustainable future.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Congratulations, thank you, and well done!</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Cheers,</div><div class="">Kevin.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">------------------------------------</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><b class="">1) Upcoming Dates:</b></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class="">Thursday, August 18th at 5:00pm - Final vote and approval of the 2051 Regional Official Plan by Regional Council</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Monday, October 24th - Municipal Elections</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">2) Most Recent Staff Report for this meeting:</b></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""></div></div></div></div></body></html>