[GREN-Exec] Fwd: Regional Official Plan Update

[Kevin Thomason]

Hi Greg,

Here’s the Toronto Report and some insights from Franz.

Kevin.


-------------------------------------

> 
> Hi Kevin,
> 
> I've attached the report which can also be found here <http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/decisionBodyProfile.do?function=doPrepare&meetingId=19743#Meeting-2021.PH29>.
> 
> In Toronto, I know it will be a tough sell in many single family neighbourhoods to allow multiplex units. People hate change and they don't like construction.
> 
> My only advice in how to play this in Waterloo is to also appeal to people's pocketbooks. For example, perhaps neighbourhoods that have zoning changes to allow multiplex units are given a special tax break? I don't know if that is legal or would even work but it may be the sort of thing that helps quiet the NIMBYs.
> 
> Re: making a presentation to regional staff and Council. Talk to Kevin Eby about this. Having GREN or some other ENGO present this makes it  too easy to dismiss it as a "greenie/downtown Toronto idea that may work in Toronto but will never work here". It may make more sense to find someone doing this in a smaller city (in Ontario or elsewhere) so that we don't play into the "anti Toronto" sentiment that always lurks in the background. But Kevin E would know best.
> 
> Franz
> 
> 
>> Begin forwarded message:
>> 
>> From: Greg Michalenko <gcmichalenko at uwaterloo.ca <mailto:gcmichalenko at uwaterloo.ca>>
>> Subject: Re: [GREN-Exec] Regional Official Plan Update
>> Date: November 25, 2021 at 10:34:40 AM EST
>> To: Kevin Thomason <kevinthomason at mac.com <mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>>
>> Cc: GREN executive <executive at gren.ca <mailto:executive at gren.ca>>, All <all-bounces at gren.ca <mailto:all-bounces at gren.ca>>
>> 
>> Re:  new approaches to municipal zoning and "unzoning".
>> Take a look at an article in the Globe and Mail this morning "Planning report signals real changes in house-centric areas" (p. A6).  It's a recommendation from Planning to Toronto council to actually amend the same-old "exclusionary zoning" (ie, nothing-but single-family dwellings in many areas, exclusive employment lands, etc), that has stifled creative city design for decades in all out cities, and instead allow a mixture of houses, small apartments, commercial, etc.  They call the outcome "gentle density". It's a bold departure.  
>> 
>> I think we should make a presentation to Regional council before they spend too much time in round two just looking at how much additional land will be needed according to current zoning orthodoxy before 2051.  We should ask them to do something similar to Toronto.  I wonder if we could get a copy of the Toronto report. Chief planner is Gregg Lintern; Councillor Ana Blbao who is deputy mayor and the "housing point person" is on side.  it now goes to the mayor's office.
>> 
>> -Greg Michalenko
> 

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