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<p>Too bad Jeff is not seeking re-election. <br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Susan K</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 3/21/2022 10:48 AM, Greg Michalenko
wrote:<br>
</div>
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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. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
-Greg</div>
<hr style="display:inline-block;width:98%" tabindex="-1">
<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font style="font-size:11pt"
face="Calibri, sans-serif" color="#000000"><b>From:</b>
Executive <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:executive-bounces@gren.ca"><executive-bounces@gren.ca></a> on behalf of Kevin
Thomason <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:kevthomason@gmail.com"><kevthomason@gmail.com></a><br>
<b>Sent:</b> March 20, 2022 10:33 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> GREN Executive <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:executive@gren.ca"><executive@gren.ca></a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [GREN-Exec] Update on Activities</font>
<div> </div>
</div>
<div class="" style="word-wrap:break-word;
line-break:after-white-space">Hi GREN Executive,
<div class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div class="">I hope that you are enjoying this warmer weather.
I want to provide an update on a number of things:</div>
<div class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div class=""><b class="">1) Wilmot MZO </b>- 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.</div>
<div class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div class=""><b class="">2) Green Development Standards -</b>
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.</div>
<div class=""><b class=""><br class="">
</b></div>
<div class=""><b class="">3) Regional Official Plan Review -</b>
continues with new information and public consultations
expected from the Region in the next few weeks - I will keep
you posted.</div>
<div class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div class=""><b class="">4) Greenbelt Expansion </b>- 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.</div>
<div class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div class=""><b class="">5) GRCA Land Sale -</b> 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.</div>
<div class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div class=""><b class="">6) Hallman Pit - </b>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.</div>
<div class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div class=""><b class="">7) Gravel Pit Moratoriums </b>- 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.</div>
<div class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div class=""><b class="">8) Ontario Greenbelt Alliance -</b>
There is also an OGA all member meeting coming up on<font
class="" style="font-weight:bold" size="4"> </font>April 7th
at 7 pm. Details are as follows:</div>
<div class=""><b class=""><font class="" size="4"><br class="">
</font></b></div>
<div class=""><span class="x_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span>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. </div>
<div class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div class=""><b class=""><font class="" size="4"><a
href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgDAO6ceiec2143cz3f7Pj3ywRPuzbTAm1vg4n4fetlVQI4w/viewform?usp=sf_link"
class="" moz-do-not-send="true"><span class="x_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span>REGISTER
HERE. </a></font></b></div>
<div class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div class=""><font class="" style="font-style:normal"><span class="x_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span>NEW OGA
Resources to Help Local Planning Fights - </font>Check out
the OGA website <a
href="https://www.greenbeltalliance.ca/resources" class=""
moz-do-not-send="true">Resources page</a> 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.</div>
<div class=""><span class="" style="font-style:normal"><br
class="">
</span></div>
<div class=""><font class="" style="font-style:normal"><span class="x_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span>A
"Must See" <a
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbeRR65KreQ"
class="" moz-do-not-send="true">Video</a> that Debunks
Developer Myths - </font>We've just posted a <a
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbeRR65KreQ" class=""
moz-do-not-send="true">new video</a> 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. </div>
<div class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div class=""><span class="x_Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span><a
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbeRR65KreQ"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext" moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbeRR65KreQ</a></div>
<div class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div class="">Hopefully all this makes sense. Please let me
know any questions or ideas.</div>
<div class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div class="">Cheers,</div>
<div class="">Kevin.</div>
<div class="">
<div class="">
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<div><br class="">
-------------------------------------<br class="">
<br class="">
Kevin Thomason<br class="">
<br class="">
1115 Cedar Grove Road<br class="">
Waterloo, Ontario Canada N2J 3Z4<br class="">
<br class="">
Phone: (519) 888-0519<br class="">
Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648<br class="">
Twitter: @kthomason<br class="">
<a href="mailto:kevinthomason@mac.com" class=""
moz-do-not-send="true">E-mail: kevinthomason@mac.com</a>
or
<a href="mailto:kevthomason@gmail.com"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext" moz-do-not-send="true">kevthomason@gmail.com</a></div>
<div><br class="">
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