[GREN-Exec] Regional Official Plan Update

[Kevin Thomason]

Hi Greg,

Excellent points and suggestions!  I love the points that new developments go where it is most profitable and not where they are most needed.  Also the issues of single uses only has to be better addressed in the future.

I had a great Zoom call with the two Vancouver Industrial Planners and the Hold the Line folks today.  It was very encouraging.  They had excellent ideas and we are going to see what we can set-up for a webinar in January.

I’ve passed along your e-mail.  Keep us posted on further thoughts.

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

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> On Nov 23, 2021, at 12:03 PM, Greg Michalenko <gcmichalenko at uwaterloo.ca> wrote:
> 
> Dear Kevin,
> 
> One quick matter re item 2, a webinair with Council and staff.  You might send participants  an article from the latest issue of Monitor, the periodical of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives:
> 
> Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood.  The Zero-Carbon Suburb.  P. 13-14, Vol. 28 No. 4, November-December 2021 issue of Monitor.  monitor at policyalternatives.ca <mailto:monitor at policyalternatives.ca>   613 563-1341
> 
> The gist of the article is to challenge the zoning distinctions of residential vs "employment" lands. Part of the message: 
> 
> "Many Canadian communities cordon off different areas for single uses - businesses here, houses here, towers here.  We also place counterproductive limits on new developments (eg, requiring a minimum number of parking spaces for homes).  Those rules need to change,  Most neighbourhoods of single-family detached homes in medium-to-large Canadian cities can and should be rezoned to allow 4-6unit homes and 3-5 storey mixed use apartment buildings.
> 
> A secondary obstacle is the current for-profit property development model.  New supply is prioritized where it will make the most money...and not where affordable home and accessible commercial spaces are needed, such as around transit hubs..."
> 
> Maybe he would be a good addition to the webinair.  He is listed as "a senior researcher at the CCPA National Office where he focuses on international trade and climate change policy in Canada".  You could also ask permission to copy the article to local planners and councillors.
> - Greg
> 
> 
> From: Executive <executive-bounces at gren.ca <mailto:executive-bounces at gren.ca>> on behalf of Kevin Thomason <kevinthomason at mac.com <mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>>
> Sent: November 23, 2021 11:24 AM
> To: GREN executive <executive at gren.ca <mailto:executive at gren.ca>>
> Subject: [GREN-Exec] Regional Official Plan Update
>  
> HI GREN Executive,
> 
> It has been another busy few days on the Regional Official Plan - particularly with the large webinar follow-up and then the Hamilton decision this past Friday night.  Thankfully, it looks like the week ahead might be a bit quieter which will allow more time to follow-up with Regional Staff, reach out to Planning Professors, and try to find creative ways that we can use Doug Ford’s mandated Land Needs Analysis in ways they never fathomed.
> 
> Many folks from GREN and the Waterloo area were able to spend most of Sunday morning on the Yours to Protect Summit which specifically delved into the Official Plans happening across the province.  There seemed to be a strong directive from the hundreds of people participating in the event to share information and materials on how we can be more effective with achieving better outcomes on these Official Plans.  I will follow-up more in the days ahead with the organizers and see what might be possible.
> 
> With regards to the Greenbelt Foundation grant that GREN has received to work on the Regional Official Plan as well as Greenbelt expansion from now until June 2022 there are some things that I am going to need Greg’s help with and I want to make sure that the Executive is fully engaged on.  The following expenses would all be covered by the $12,000 of grant that we have already received for the activities underway:
> 
> 1) EcoSpark Funding - as part of the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance work and the sharing funding between organizations we need to send EcoSpark an invoice for $4,400 and they will send a cheque to GREN for this amount to help facilitate the work that we are doing on these Greenbelt and Official Plan projects.  Greg I will send you the specific details and perhaps you can prepare an invoice similar to last year.
> 
> 2) Hold the Line - as part of our ROP, Sean Campbell at HTLWR wants to host a webinar with industrial land economists and progressive industrial planners from the UK and British Columbia on ways that we can better intensify our employment lands.  There has already been interest expressed in such a webinar by Regional Councillors and it would be aimed at Staff too.  They are wondering if we can fund a stipend for the speakers.  I would suggest that we fund them two $250 stipends for the two presenters. 
> 
> 3) The Nith Valley Ecoboosters and 50x30WR have done an excellent job co-ordinating and co-hosting two recent webinars on the Regional Official Plan.  While they aren’t expecting anything I would like to send them $250 each of our funding to help with their efforts and expenses.  
> 
> 4) Franz Hartman has been incredible at helping me with all of these Regional Official Plan and Greenbelt Expansion activities.  He has sent us his first invoice and a contract outlining his role/responsibilities that looks quite reasonable.  I would like to proceed to pay him the $664.88 for this first invoice and agree to his simple contract.
> 
> 5) I have put in considerable time over the past months as well and I am submitting invoices as well under the Greenbelt Foundation grant for September and October.  I feel awkward invoicing for activities that historically have all been volunteer however, the sheer amount of time invested is far greater than anything prior.  What I am proposing is to charge a basic $40/hour rate as per the contract but then reduce this by only charging for half my hours put into activities - thus still donating half of my all my time put into things - thus working out to about $20/per hour or not much more than minimum wage.  Hopefully, this is a fair approach that recognizes my considerable efforts and time being invested in these environmental activities while stretching budgets as far as possible.  Presumably we can undertake a similar approach for anyone else who feels that they are putting in significant enough amounts of time that they need compensation for it.
> 
> Please let me know if you are in agreement with these 5 items and any questions or ideas.  We can have an Executive Conference Call to discuss things if it would be helpful or simply follow-up via e-mail.  I will work with you Greg on the financial details and the required cheques.
> 
> Let me know any thoughts or ideas.
> 
> Thanks,
> Kevin.
> 
> ---------------------
> 
> 1) Dr. Franz Hartman Invoice. Timesheet, and Contract
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 2) Kevin Thomason Timesheets Invoice - October and November
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -------------------------------------
> 
> 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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