[GREN-Exec] first draft GREN submission for land use planning Jan2014

Thu Jan 9 10:33:35 EST 2014

Great work Susan K and all those who contributed.

I just have a few changes:

In ³1)   An eco-system approach to ensure the protection
and‹ideally‹improvement of geological features, water systems (both surface
and underground), natural areas, air quality and agricultural land.² remove
³ideally². Ideally means there won¹t be real pressure on developers to make
it happen. It should be a requirement of any development proposal. I also
would change the word ³improvement² to ³enhancement.² It¹s the word usually
used in this context.

³1.    Not being included early enough in planning process to make informed
contributions.² The problem here is the word ³informed². That can be
interpreted as a criticism of citizen intervenors. The problem with not
being involved early in the process is that the further the proponent has
gone on the proposal development, the harder it is for citizens to have a
serious effect on the proposal because the proponent has become so wed to
the project that they resist change. Also the further the proponent has gone
down the stream the more money and staff time that they have already spent,
which contributes to their greater resistance to serious changes. So I think
we need to change the word ³informed² to something like ³effective². That
isn¹t quite the right word to reflect what I am saying, but I trust you
Susan to come up with the best word. Or perhaps a sentence needs to be added
explaining what we mean.

³1.    a far more cost-effective option that protracted and expensive legal
actions taken against the OMB by developers and speculators.² Change ³that²
to ³than².

The paragraph near the end about acknowledging need for an OMB should be
moved up to the part where we talk about the problem with the OMB so they
are getting a complete picture of what we think of the OMB in one place.
Also is there some way to modify the sentence on small municipalities in
that paragraph. I know it is because of me that you said that, but in large
municipalities councillors often have personal interests that conflict with
progressive landuse planning.

I trust you to deal with these concerns so no need to run it by us for
approval again.

I think you have my signature for the letter. If not, let me know and I¹ll
send it to you.

Thanks again Susan for all your work on this.

John

On 14-01-08 1:17 PM, "Susan Koswan" <susankoswan at execulink.com> wrote:

> Thanks for your comments Greg. I have, once again, played with it some more 
> trying to reduce the word count without losing the intent also  to make sure
> they read it! 8-)
>  
> Have another read. Hoping this is it.
>  
> Susan K 
>  
> 
> From: Gregory C. Michalenko [mailto:gcmichalenko at uwaterloo.ca]
> Sent: January-08-14 10:37 AM
> To: Susan Bryant; Susan Koswan; 'GREN Executive'; 'Bob Burtt'
> Subject: RE: [GREN-Exec] first draft GREN submission for land use planning
> Jan2014
>  
> 
> I've probably done too much editing of Susan K's draft, but have tried toehold
> to the spirit and content of it.  Coincident to Susan B's urging, I had worked
> in a mention of hydrology.  I'm not sure what item #5 means - perhaps it could
> be revised.  I also worked in a plea for intervenor funding and  gave simply
> "toxic waste" as an example.  John can revise that to specify the process he
> was involved in. Susan B's 3-point summary of the heart of the issue is very
> nicely stated and should be highlighted, perhaps by being noted as the most
> critical concern.  Please consider my version as just tentative suggestions
> and pick and choose , accept and reject or ignore any parts of it as you see
> fit. 
> 
> - Greg
> 
> 
> From: Executive [executive-bounces at gren.ca] on behalf of Susan Bryant
> [shbryant at uwaterloo.ca]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2014 5:37 PM
> To: Susan Koswan; 'GREN Executive'; 'Bob Burtt'
> Subject: Re: [GREN-Exec] first draft GREN submission for land use planning
> Jan2014
> 
> Happy new year to you too, Susan K.
> 
>  
> 
> So many thanks for putting this together. It¹s wonderful, and I think
> expresses the GREN perspective very well. My only suggestion would be that it
> could perhaps highlight again and restate, at the end, our current concern.
> 
>  
> 
> That OMB challenges to a ROP should not be allowed when that ROP 1) accords
> with provincial requirements, 2) has been worked out after years of open and
> inclusive local public consultation, 3) has been amended and approved by the
> province. 
> 
>  
> 
> And perhaps we should note that in an urban area like Waterloo Region which
> depends on groundwater for most of its water supply---and plans to depend on
> that local resource for the foreseeable future---it¹s especially important
> that land-use issues not be vulnerable to developers¹ pressures at the OMB.
> 
>  
> 
> I don¹t have the right wording here, but someone else will if they agree that
> we should highlight this point.
> 
>  
> 
> That¹s my 2 cents-worth.
> 
>  
> 
> Cheers,
> 
>  
> 
> Susan B
> 
>  
> 
> From: Susan Koswan <mailto:susankoswan at execulink.com>
> 
> Sent: Monday, January 06, 2014 3:44 PM
> 
> To: 'GREN Executive' <mailto:executive at gren.ca>  ; 'Bob Burtt'
> <mailto:bobburtt at gmail.com>
> 
> Subject: [GREN-Exec] first draft GREN submission for land use planning Jan2014
> 
>  
> 
> Happy New Year all!
>  
> So here¹s my first kick at the can. This submission is due Friday, so comments
> and suggestions welcomed pronto! Then I shall put it on GREN letterhead and
> Bob¹s your uncle! Ok, that¹s enough clichés. 8-)
>  
> Susan K 
> 
> 
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> 
> 
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> -- 
> John Jackson
> 17 Major Street
> Kitchener, Ontario N2H 4R1
> 519-744-7503
> 

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