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Topic: Public Input on Municipal Official Plans

Author	Message
Marc Xuereb Wed Mar 3, 2010 10:48 am	In 2009, the Roundtable and many other people and organizations gave input into the Region of Waterloo's Official Plan (ROP) with a view to encouraging the Region to include food policies in it. Now, each of the seven area municipalities in the Region must create Official Plans of their own which conform to the ROP. There is an opportunity for these municipalities to include food-related policies that would address things like community gardens, the keeping urban hens and bees, locating food stores, etc. Below is information about public consultations being held by the Cities of Kitchener and Waterloo. If you have information on the other municipalities (Cambridge or the four rural townships), please feel free to post the info as a response below. Cty of Waterloo http://www.city.waterloo.on.ca/planitwaterloo "Staff anticipates that public workshops and/or open houses will take place early 2010 (approximately May, 2010). If you have any questions please contact the City at 519-747-8752 or at planitwaterloo@waterloo.ca" City of Kitchener http://www.kitchener.ca/officialplan/ Public Meeting Monday, March 8, 2010 to hear ideas from public, public review of policies anticipated in 2011 October 2009 Official Plan Review Update: http://www.kitchener.ca/Files/Item/item17473_dts-09-158.pdf
Marc Xuereb Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:46 am	I received this anonymous comment from a farmer in Wilmot Township: "I know there are a number of small farms in Wilmot who have had issues with various on farm uses. There seems to be an anti small farm sentiment generally. Farmers are really at the mercy of their approvals. I know 2 farms who were denied permission to put up small, unheated hoop houses. Another wanted to expand their on-farm market and they were denied permission. (The township keeps saying to farmers that they “don’t want another Herrle’s” - I guess there is some past history there or something. As a result of all this, small farms are just trying to “stay under the wire” and not seek permission for agri-tourism and other ventures. They are certain their request will be turned down, so they think they are better off to beg forgiveness later basically. "Anyway, it' my sense that this is the township that really needs to move."