09 August 2007
a fine balance
"You will make all kinds of mistakes;
but as long as you are generous and true and also fierce
you cannot hurt the world or seriously distress her.
She was made to be wooed and won by youth."
--Winston Churchill
Carter writes: "This [i.e. the Bush] administration always chooses politics over what is best for the country. Carter then proceeds with a series of choices that somehow always favoured "Choose politics"...to finally ask,"Protect our environment or turn public lands and waterways over to Republican-base polluting interests? Choose politics." ===> How sincere is Prime Minister Harper's assertion of Canadian sovereignty over the Arctic when his government leaves our Coast Guard badly funded with ships desperately needing repairs? when his government abandoned the Kelowna accord that would have strengthened the lot of our aboriginal peoples who are settled in the northern reaches of our country?....
But those questions are a diversion from the issue of the controversial developments on the West Side of Waterloo.
In arriving at these posts, RR sifted countless reports, articles, and e-mails. In the end, only one questions remains--worded variously depending on the person's point of view/bias. In the Record's opinion, the environmentalists lost their battle to stop the proposed developments. In an e-mail from a local environmentalist, the writer opined that these developments are a compromise hammered out over the last twenty years. In the opinion of Ms. Rogers, the legal counsel to the developers, these subdivisions are a remarkable development.
Yes, Ms. Rogers*, they are indeed a remarkable development and a remarkable achievement resulting from extensive public consultation, due diligence applied by municipal and regional staff, and a remarkable willingness on the part of the developers to accommodate public input. Much has been accomplished by the ongoing political process. It's easy to forget the tremendous courage and vision demonstrated a year ago by the Councils of the City of Waterloo and the Region of Waterloo when they approved the Laurel Creek Headwaters ESL designation. That decision effectively decreased the quantity of developable greenfield lands within the City of Waterloo & made approval of the agricultural lands in question virtually a done deal. Nonetheless, the Laurel Creek ESL will be enhanced by the hotly contested developments as those lands within ESPA 19 (Forested Hills) will be protected by an enhanced buffer that far exceeds the minimum legal requirement. As well, there will be buffers to protect the scenic rural portions of the Wilmot Line.
Another outcome of the extensive public involvement in these developments has been the Ministry of Environment review of the Waterloo and Galt-Paris moraines during the next 18 months. It's time to reframe this particular discussion to acknowledge that everyone involved has achieved a fine balance that respects our love for the land and our need for a place to grow.
It's time to move on as pressures are mounting elsewhere on the Waterloo Moraine. The expansion of Hwy 7 between Kitchener and Stratford will consume more of the Waterloo Moraine and prime agricultural lands. Pressure for a Trussler Road access to Highway 401 will increase traffic through the Alder-Strasburg watershed and put at risk the Region's water supply. Faced by provincial pressures to grow, we need to ask the question, "How much development can the entire Grand River watershed sustain before we have to put limits on growth?" All local municipalities are updated their official plans by 2008 and have invited public input. The time to think about the larger issues and to speak up is now.
Together
we will work
to support courage where there is fear,
foster agreement where there is conflict,
and inspire hope where there is despair.
The Elders Manifesto 2007
we will work
to support courage where there is fear,
foster agreement where there is conflict,
and inspire hope where there is despair.
The Elders Manifesto 2007
Notes: * Ms. Rogers is an expert in municipal, environmental, and planning law and a past member of the Ontario Municipal Board.
Photo copyright Sandamara Images 2002: exploring the Grand River.
No end is visible,
or even conceivable,
to this kingdom of adventure.
--G. L. Mallory
or even conceivable,
to this kingdom of adventure.
--G. L. Mallory
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