For Immediate Release
COMMUNITY MEMBERS URGED TO PARTICIPATE IN PROVINCIAL LAND PLANNING CONSULTATIONS
Waterloo Region, Ontario – Smart Growth Waterloo Region is urging fellow community members to participate in upcoming consultations on land use planning, appeals, and development charges systems. The Government of Ontario announced parameters and dates for the consultation phase of its review process on Thursday.
“It’s unfortunate that the government has decided it won’t hear the opinions of citizens about the operations or existence of the Ontario Municipal Board, but major issues are still on the table,” said Mike Boos, co-founder of Smart Growth Waterloo Region. “They’re considering things like whether whole Official Plans should be appealable. Citizens need to get involved and have their say.”
“The people of our region have seen first-hand that these rules affect Ontario communities,” added Kate Daley, site co-founder. “Our community has put a decade of work into its Regional Official Plan, and now the Region has to defend that plan against the Ontario Municipal Board in court. We need changes to protect communities across Ontario from the threats that we’re facing.”
The province plans to hold a consultation in Kitchener-Waterloo on November 14, 2013, and comments can be submitted online, by email, or by mail before January 10, 2014. Information on the Province’s consultations can be found at http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/
In January, the Ontario Municipal Board’s ruled against the Region of Waterloo’s Official Plan, siding with developers who demanded the Region open eleven times more land to urban sprawl between now and 2031. The ruling creates a precedent that threatens the province’s Places to Grow Growth Plan and democratic local decision-making across Ontario. Smart Growth Waterloo Region, hosted at www.smartgrowthwaterloo.ca, is a website launched by local residents to raise awareness of the Ontario Municipal Board decision.
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Media Contact:
Kevin Thomason
Phone: 519-888-0519
Mobile Phone: 519-240-1648
Email: media@smartgrowthwaterloo.ca