Please read the following message. If you support it please email it to mcolleen@region.waterloo.on.ca before January 31. Please tell your friends!The Region's Official
Plan (ROP) is an important local planning document. It will govern development in this Region of the Grand River Watershed until 2029. It will directly impact the quality of life of current and future generations. The core values expressed in the draft ROP need to protect sensitive source water (surface and subsurface) areas, natural heritage areas, threatened species habitats, and agricultural lands. A new Official Plan is needed to combat urban sprawl resulting from bad planning throughout the Region (i.e. Hidden Valley, Doon South, Strasburg Creek, Wards Pond, Forbes Wetlands, the northwest corner of Waterloo, and the West Montrose Kissing Bridge) to ensure sustainable development. Waterlooians.ca supports initiatives in the draft plan that preserve the Waterloo Moraine, local groundwater recharge areas, natural heritage areas, threatened species habitats, and agricultural lands. The Region's Environmentally Sensitive Landscape (ESL) designations and the protected country side line concept attempt to address these matters. Waterlooians.ca strongly encourages the Region to include the McNally lands in Waterloo in the ESL as it has recently been rezoned Green 1. Furthermore, Waterlooians.ca still believes that a Provincial Greenbelt appears to be a better policy instrument than ESLs as it provides greater protection from aggregate extraction. In order to address forced population growth Waterlooians.ca supports greater intensification of build up areas and urban cores. Please note that Waterlooians.ca objects, at this time, to the forced provincial and federal growth as data regarding the carrying capacity of the Grand River do not appear to support the growth (State of the Resource Report for the Grand River 2005). Waterlooians.ca is encouraging the Region of Waterloo to complete the process regarding the new official plan update on our own time and not to be beholden to the Provincial time line. Furthermore, we encourage the Region to not be beholden to the forced Provincial growth targets.Unfortunately the draft plan does not appear to go far enough in ensuring resource security for future generations of Waterlooians. It continues to promote urban sprawl, in the form of greenfield development, throughout the entire Region, both urban areas and rural. To review some current planning problems in Waterloo Region please review the educational videos at: http://ca.youtube.com/user/GeneralPeaceIn order to protect future generations Waterlooians.ca is calling upon the Region of Waterloo to amend their draft official plan by:- include the entire McNally Lands in the ESL as per the wishes of the late Doug McNally- removing the Lake Erie Pipeline concept from the Long Term Water Supply Strategy- focus the majority of new growth in existing build up areas and cores- drastically reducing the amount of urban sprawl greenfield development in rural and urban areas- not supporting any urban reserve concepts past 2029 and reducing the size of greenfield urban reserves to 2029 - focus on brownfield remediation and address the legacy of industrial pollutionThese suggestions will strengthen the draft ROP in order to protect sensitive source water (surface and subsurface) areas, natural heritage areas, threatened species habitats, and agricultural lands for future generations.Save it, don't pave it, the Waterloo Moraine!!Respectfully yours,
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Kitchener Growth Management Strategy (KGMS) - My letter to council
Hello Council,
It's curious that a time for the meeting is not listed on the website. Regardless I cannot make it today.
I am writing to share with you my thoughts on the KGMS.
I don't have a lot of time to review your extensive document, but I have a rough idea.
I applaud city's efforts to build up in the core. If we are going to see population growth we want to accomodate people who work in the city, and not have people driving into the core from the suburbs.
As for the suburbs. Watch what you're doing, please. If you expect people to raise their children in this community, don't compromise our drinking water. Society has created an illusion that water comes from bottles. We know, however that water comes from rivers, lakes, streams, aquifers, and springs. If we continue working under the illusion that water comes from bottles, and that it is okay to build suburbs on aquifers, and watersheds, than we are in big trouble. I know it is easy to buy, but it is sustainable to care.
Speaking of sustainablility, and caring, is this plan addressing the nutritional needs of a growing Kitchener? In order to grow sustainably, without increasing our carbon footprint by a bazillion, we need to consider food systems and food security. Thanks to the 100 Mile Diet, I believe that Kitchener is becomming more of a conscious community. This means that they will be receptive to urban agriculture programs. We want to see green roofs, and an organic focus. No one wants to eat pesticide layden food, but that is what has been made affordable. If we want a healthy community than we need to look at what kinds of food we are providing them with, and how much we are polluting in the process.
One last thought about suburbs. Community gardens in the suburbs. I know we have them in the core, but the people on the edge of town need to eat too. The less they drive, the healthier we are. The more we grow diverse plant life, the healthier we are. Also, I urge city to look into alternative housing options. Structures made of cob, and straw bale are so affordable to build, and they last for years. Look at the history of cob, there are some structures still standing in Europe built hundreds of years ago. Revolutionizing the way we build is important if we want to be sustainable.
Change is necessary. The way things have been done for the past century is outdated. Trends are fading, and new ones are emerging. Lets ride the wave of change towards a more sustainable future.
Thank you for your consideration,
Lauren Stallard
To send your own, contact these folks, and check out these links.
http://www.kitchener.ca/city_hall/departments/devtech_services/planning/growth_management_strategy.html
http://www.kitchener.ca/city_hall/mayor_council/council.html
It's curious that a time for the meeting is not listed on the website. Regardless I cannot make it today.
I am writing to share with you my thoughts on the KGMS.
I don't have a lot of time to review your extensive document, but I have a rough idea.
I applaud city's efforts to build up in the core. If we are going to see population growth we want to accomodate people who work in the city, and not have people driving into the core from the suburbs.
As for the suburbs. Watch what you're doing, please. If you expect people to raise their children in this community, don't compromise our drinking water. Society has created an illusion that water comes from bottles. We know, however that water comes from rivers, lakes, streams, aquifers, and springs. If we continue working under the illusion that water comes from bottles, and that it is okay to build suburbs on aquifers, and watersheds, than we are in big trouble. I know it is easy to buy, but it is sustainable to care.
Speaking of sustainablility, and caring, is this plan addressing the nutritional needs of a growing Kitchener? In order to grow sustainably, without increasing our carbon footprint by a bazillion, we need to consider food systems and food security. Thanks to the 100 Mile Diet, I believe that Kitchener is becomming more of a conscious community. This means that they will be receptive to urban agriculture programs. We want to see green roofs, and an organic focus. No one wants to eat pesticide layden food, but that is what has been made affordable. If we want a healthy community than we need to look at what kinds of food we are providing them with, and how much we are polluting in the process.
One last thought about suburbs. Community gardens in the suburbs. I know we have them in the core, but the people on the edge of town need to eat too. The less they drive, the healthier we are. The more we grow diverse plant life, the healthier we are. Also, I urge city to look into alternative housing options. Structures made of cob, and straw bale are so affordable to build, and they last for years. Look at the history of cob, there are some structures still standing in Europe built hundreds of years ago. Revolutionizing the way we build is important if we want to be sustainable.
Change is necessary. The way things have been done for the past century is outdated. Trends are fading, and new ones are emerging. Lets ride the wave of change towards a more sustainable future.
Thank you for your consideration,
Lauren Stallard
To send your own, contact these folks, and check out these links.
http://www.kitchener.ca/city_hall/departments/devtech_services/planning/growth_management_strategy.html
http://www.kitchener.ca/city_hall/mayor_council/council.html
Cliterature KW
Wow,
What an event. I feel liberated, and empowered. These are women I would love to work with in the future. Saturday night was Cliterature, an evening of poetry, short stories, photography and burlesque at it's finest and funniest! It was so inspiring to see so many people get up to the microphone and share with us their liberation. The joy and laughter that spread through the audience made my heart dance. I am proud that the community in Kitchener is creating events such as this, and bringing in talent from as far away as Montreal!
Much love to everyone who put that show together.
Bravo!
What an event. I feel liberated, and empowered. These are women I would love to work with in the future. Saturday night was Cliterature, an evening of poetry, short stories, photography and burlesque at it's finest and funniest! It was so inspiring to see so many people get up to the microphone and share with us their liberation. The joy and laughter that spread through the audience made my heart dance. I am proud that the community in Kitchener is creating events such as this, and bringing in talent from as far away as Montreal!
Much love to everyone who put that show together.
Bravo!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Welcome to the world wide web
This blog space will get interesting.
For now it is enough to know that I have an account.
Now I need to make some menstrual pads, so that our organization can provide women with the alternative options that they deserve, and fund our projects to educate and empower women. We have a choice, though some may not know it yet.
For the love of Earth, educate.
http://www.scarleteen.com/article/body/on_the_rag_a_guide_to_menstruation
http://www.scarleteen.com/article/pink/eight_myths_about_washable_menstrual_pads_dispelled
http://www.mum.org/
For now it is enough to know that I have an account.
Now I need to make some menstrual pads, so that our organization can provide women with the alternative options that they deserve, and fund our projects to educate and empower women. We have a choice, though some may not know it yet.
For the love of Earth, educate.
http://www.scarleteen.com/article/body/on_the_rag_a_guide_to_menstruation
http://www.scarleteen.com/article/pink/eight_myths_about_washable_menstrual_pads_dispelled
http://www.mum.org/
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