[GREN-Exec] Regional Official Plan Issues Update - Monday

[Kevin Thomason]

Hi GREN Executive and Franz,

I have managed to connect to a number of key influencers and experts around our community to discuss the situation with our unambitious ROP update:

1) Rapid Transit Intensification - one planning expert has told me that he has serious concerns about how low and pathetic the Regional intensification targets are under all three Scenarios - stating that the Staff Recommendation of 60% is so low that it likely threatens future phases of the iON LRT as we won’t achieve the required ridership densities.  He felt that it should be at least 65% increasing to 80%+ in the longer term of 2041 to 2051.


2) Kitchener Staff Report - I have just learned that Kitchener City Staff expressed many of these same concerns about the un-ambitious targets that we have been discussing in a Staff Report released a few weeks ago.  Here’s what I was just sent from a community leader who just met with Kitchener Staff:

"I think Kitchener is aligned with our thinking-- see Staff Report 2021-160 <https://lf.kitchener.ca/WebLinkExt/DocView.aspx?id=1939868&searchid=2ca2a5a2-45ea-4bfd-a498-01991249d3f3&dbid=0> and is also cognizant that saying “none of the above” may not be effective.  Kitchener Staff write “if it is not possible for the Region to advance multiple scenarios through the next phase of the project for time, resource or budget reasons, staff continue to recommend that the City offer preliminary support for scenario 3…” (p. 3)  I believe it is tantamount to endorsing the best of three insufficient options."

I have attached the Kitchener Report below.  It’s interesting to see in the report Kitchener Council seeking a 70% intensification rate but it being denied by the Region.  It certainly confirms that the 60% intensification rate is too low and we need to aim higher - particularly over the long term.

The Regional Staff Report is still slated for release tomorrow (Tuesday) to the best of my knowledge. 

Let me know any thoughts and I’ll keep you posted.

Cheers,
Kevin.

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Kevin Thomason

1115 Cedar Grove Road
Waterloo, Ontario Canada  N2J 3Z4

Phone: (519) 888-0519
Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648
Twitter: @kthomason
E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com <mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>

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