[GREN-Exec] Update on Activities

Mon Mar 21 12:22:53 EDT 2022

Too bad Jeff is not seeking re-election.

Susan K

On 3/21/2022 10:48 AM, Greg Michalenko wrote:
> Today's Record mentions that Waterloo councillor Jeff henry (who is 
> retiring at the end of this term) will present a motion re green 
> standards at this evening's council meeting.
> -Greg
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Executive <executive-bounces at gren.ca> on behalf of Kevin 
> Thomason <kevthomason at gmail.com>
> *Sent:* March 20, 2022 10:33 PM
> *To:* GREN Executive <executive at gren.ca>
> *Subject:* [GREN-Exec] Update on Activities
> Hi GREN Executive,
>
> I hope that you are enjoying this warmer weather.  I want to provide 
> an update on a number of things:
>
> *1) Wilmot MZO *- continues to wind down with some recent media 
> articles still being written.  For the most part this is a good news 
> story of the community coming together in a very strong way and 
> defeating a proposed MZO.
>
> *2) Green Development Standards -* with so many people appalled at the 
> development plans put forward by the Cachet Developments MZO there are 
> a number of citizens and groups interested in taking the momentum from 
> the MZO and seeing how the energy in the community can be directed 
> into having local municipalities require Green Development Standards 
> where building permits won’t be issued unless high levels of design, 
> performance, and environmental standards are met that far exceed the 
> current building code, etc.  The Region of Waterloo, City of Waterloo, 
> Township of Halton Hills, City of Ottawa, City of Toronto, etc. are 
> doing progressive things and there is a good chance that we can make 
> some significant progress perhaps even in advance of October’s 
> elections.  The GDS group is undertaking a bunch of research and 
> meetings to better understand what might be achievable.
> *
> *
> *3) Regional Official Plan Review -* continues with new information 
> and public consultations expected from the Region in the next few 
> weeks - I will keep you posted.
>
> *4) Greenbelt Expansion *- one government leak says that any Greenbelt 
> expansion has been deferred until after the June provincial election, 
> while another leak is that there will be announcements for just Urban 
> River Valley expansions before the end of March with then 
> announcements in the autumn assuming Ford gets re-elected opening up 
> the Greenbelt in the exact amounts of these URV expansions.  Only time 
> will tell what transpires however we may need to be ready to counter 
> any possible announcement in the weeks ahead.
>
> *5) GRCA Land Sale -* I have had Laura Murr (unknown to me but sounds 
> knowledgeable) reach out through the new GREN website saying that the 
> GRCA is preparing to sell off significant tracts of land to 
> developers.  We have seen this in the past from the GRCA and given the 
> Ford gutting of the CA’s anything is possible.  I’m not sure if there 
> is anyone willing to work with her on this to see what could be 
> underway or if there is anything that we can do about it.
>
> *6) Hallman Pit - *the Wilmot Township decision on the Hallman Pit 
> application in Shingletown that the Citizens for Safe Ground Water has 
> been fighting for 3 years comes to Wilmot Council on April 4th.  They 
> are looking for help from GREN in making delegations that evening. 
>  I’m totally swamped these days and can’t take on anything more though 
> I have tried to help this impressive little group as much as I can.  I 
> have a call with Samantha on Thursday at 11:30am if someone would like 
> to join it and see how you can help them in the weeks ahead.  I plan 
> to offer insights and coaching but can’t really do much else at this 
> point.
>
> *7) Gravel Pit Moratoriums *- the new Reform Gravel Coalition has been 
> making great progress in getting municipalities to issue moratoriums 
> on gravel pits (Halton Hills, North Dumfries, Woolwich, etc.).  I 
> suspect they will be successful in Wilmot as well (once the Hallman 
> Pit is approved this will be the carrot offered….).  We will have so 
> see how things unfold.
>
> *8) Ontario Greenbelt Alliance -* There is also an OGA all member 
> meeting coming up onApril 7th at 7 pm.  Details are as follows:
> *
> *
> Join the OGA Steering Committee and OGA members from across Southern 
> Ontario to discuss the upcoming Provincial election, local planning 
> fights and provincial Greenbelt expansion.
>
> *REGISTER HERE. 
> <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgDAO6ceiec2143cz3f7Pj3ywRPuzbTAm1vg4n4fetlVQI4w/viewform?usp=sf_link>*
>
> NEW OGA Resources to Help Local Planning Fights - Check out the OGA 
> website Resources page 
> <https://www.greenbeltalliance.ca/resources> for a host of new 
> resources. They're designed to help OGA members convince local 
> Councils to make good planning decisions that create 
> Greenbelt-friendly, affordable and sustainable communities. They were 
> developed from four OGA webinars we recently held for local elected 
> officials and planning staff across the GGH.
>
> A "Must See" Video <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbeRR65KreQ> that 
> Debunks Developer Myths - We've just posted a new video 
> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbeRR65KreQ> by expert planners Kevin 
> Eby and Susan Lloyd Swail. Designed for local elected officials and 
> planning staff, Kevin and Susan provide facts and insights that debunk 
> key planning myths the development industry is pushing as part of 
> local MCR processes. Now, we need your help to get your Mayor and 
> Councillors to watch the video.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbeRR65KreQ
>
>
> Hopefully all this makes sense.  Please let me know any questions or 
> ideas.
>
> Cheers,
> Kevin.
>
> -------------------------------------
>
> 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> or 
> kevthomason at gmail.com
>
> -----------------------------------------
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Executive mailing list
> Executive at gren.ca
> http://gren.ca/mailman/listinfo/executive_gren.ca
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/executive_gren.ca/attachments/20220321/9e71d776/attachment.html>