<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><DIV>FYI, see below e-mail received through the GREN website.</DIV>
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<DIV>Theo<BR><BR>--- On <B>Tue, 6/9/09, Robert Horvath <I><rjsahorvath@gmail.com></I></B> wrote:<BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid"><BR>From: Robert Horvath <rjsahorvath@gmail.com><BR>Subject: Strategic Disposition of City Lands -- Stirling/Homer Watson<BR>To: info@gren.ca<BR>Received: Tuesday, June 9, 2009, 8:03 AM<BR><BR>
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<DIV class=moz-text-flowed lang=x-western style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: -moz-fixed">Hi! <BR><BR>Thanks for the email that outlines activities of the Grand River Environmental Network. For the sake of keeping things short for me, I have included an email that I sent to Geoff Lorentz and Carl Zehr on Saturday. I just found out about the plan to rezone land adjacent to Lakeside Park (very close to the lake/pond) and a rally is being held in the park this Sunday afternoon. <BR><BR>Please do not distribute the attached email. It was put together quickly by me in order to make a point to our alderman and mayor. <BR><BR>If you would like more information about the event contact me for a flyer. <BR><BR>Bob <BR><BR>Robert Horvath <BR>Kitchener, ON <BR></DIV><BR>
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<DIV class=headerdisplayname style="DISPLAY: inline">Subject: </DIV>Strategic Disposition of City Lands -- Stirling/Homer Watson</TD></TR>
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<DIV class=headerdisplayname style="DISPLAY: inline">From: </DIV>Robert Horvath <A class=moz-txt-link-rfc2396E href="http://ca.mc881.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=rjsahorvath@gmail.com" target=_blank rel=nofollow ymailto="mailto:rjsahorvath@gmail.com"><rjsahorvath@gmail.com></A></TD></TR>
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<DIV class=headerdisplayname style="DISPLAY: inline">Date: </DIV>Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:34:17 -0400</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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<DIV class=headerdisplayname style="DISPLAY: inline">To: </DIV><A class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated href="http://ca.mc881.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=geoff.lorentz@kitchener.ca" target=_blank rel=nofollow ymailto="mailto:geoff.lorentz@kitchener.ca">geoff.lorentz@kitchener.ca</A></TD></TR>
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<DIV class=headerdisplayname style="DISPLAY: inline">CC: </DIV><A class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated href="http://ca.mc881.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=carl.zehr@kitchener.ca" target=_blank rel=nofollow ymailto="mailto:carl.zehr@kitchener.ca">carl.zehr@kitchener.ca</A></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR>
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<P class=SenderAddress><SPAN lang=EN-US>Robert Horvath<BR>92 Blueridge Avenue<BR>Kitchener, ON<BR>N2M 4E1</SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoDate><SPAN lang=EN-US><SPAN>June 6, 2009</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=RecipientAddress><SPAN lang=EN-US>Mr. Geoff Lorentz<BR>Alderman – Ward 5<BR>City of Kitchener</SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoSalutation><SPAN lang=EN-US>Dear Mr. Lorentz:</SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoBodyText><SPAN lang=EN-US>I was visited today by a resident of my neighbourhood who was a member of the “Friends of Lakeside Park”.<SPAN> </SPAN>She has made me aware of the potential city land sale at Stirling/Homer Watson that I was not previously aware of.<SPAN> </SPAN>I have watched the potential sale of part Kiwanis Park with great interest in the media but I have heard nothing about the sale that will affect the residents of <U>your</U> ward in <U>our</U> neighbourhood.<SPAN> </SPAN>I also noted a letter to the editor that was written in our local community newsletter today.<SPAN> </SPAN>All of this seems to be quite new to me.</SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoBodyText><SPAN lang=EN-US>I decided to do some follow up on the City of Kitchener website and read the report that was submitted to Kitchener City Council on March 2<SUP>nd</SUP>, 2009.<SPAN> </SPAN>I noted that only residents within 120 metres of any parcel of city land that was being considered would be notified of what was going on.<SPAN> </SPAN>I feel that City of Kitchener staff were negligent in giving directions of this type considering the effect that the sale of this land could have on the neighbourhoods surrounding Lakeside Park.<SPAN> </SPAN>City of Kitchener staff <SPAN> </SPAN>have assumed that 250 apartment units and 45 townhouses will be built in on this land when estimating future property tax generated.<SPAN> </SPAN>This type of development will significantly affect traffic levels and services in this area of your ward.<SPAN> </SPAN>It will also negatively affect the green space and the
animals, birds, etc that inhabit Lakeside Park by pushing development closer and closer to this area.<SPAN> </SPAN>The comments made by City of Kitchener staff in regards to this parcel of land in the report do not seem to have been well thought out (as with many recommendations made by our planning department in prior years).</SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoBodyText><SPAN lang=EN-US>This area is <U>not</U> within walking distance of a shopping area as stated in the report and is therefore not suitable for high rise or medium apartments.<SPAN> </SPAN>Schools have been closed in this area and students would have to be bussed.<SPAN> </SPAN>I don’t think planning staff have been on/around Stirling Avenue/Greenbrook Drive<SPAN> </SPAN>and Homer Watson during rush hour or they would not conclude that road capacity is adequate.<SPAN> </SPAN>The city has just spent much time and effort in calming traffic on Greenbrook Drive.<SPAN> </SPAN>What will happen to this additional traffic?<SPAN> </SPAN>If this land is sold and rezoned would the City of Kitchener now recommend the extension of Belmont Avenue to Stirling Avenue further deteriorating the green space of Lakeside Park?</SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoBodyText><SPAN lang=EN-US>There are many other aspects of this sale that have not been thought through adequately.<SPAN> </SPAN>The minimal notice and the lack of information given to the residents of your ward by city staff is appalling.<SPAN> </SPAN>It appears that City of Kitchener staff have recommended this sale purely for monetary reasons through the initial funds received on the sale and on property taxes to be received in the future … and hoped it would slip under the radar.</SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoBodyText><SPAN lang=EN-US>This sale will not just slip through with some developer getting a sweet deal and the green space being eroded in our city.<SPAN> </SPAN>I certainly hope you will work on behalf of your constituents when dealing with city staff and private land developers.</SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoBodyText><SPAN lang=EN-US>I’m looking for your support in keeping the site designated as “Open Space” as it is in the official plan.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoBodyText><SPAN lang=EN-US>I was invited to a information session by “The Friends of Lakeside Park” next Sunday, June 14 at the park.<SPAN> </SPAN>If you would like more information about the afternoon, I will certainly send you a copy of the flyer that they left with me.</SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoBodyText><SPAN lang=EN-US>I hope to see you there.</SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoClosing><SPAN lang=EN-US>Sincerely,<BR></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoClosing><SPAN lang=EN-US>Bob<BR></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoSignature><SPAN lang=EN-US>Robert Horvath</SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoSignature><SPAN lang=EN-US><A href="http://ca.mc881.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=rjsahorvath@gmail.com" target=_blank rel=nofollow ymailto="mailto:rjsahorvath@gmail.com">rjsahorvath@gmail.com</A></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoSignature><SPAN lang=EN-US> <BR>copy to:<SPAN> </SPAN>Mayor Carl Zehr</SPAN></DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></td></tr></table>