Pedestrian Charter Steering Committee

pedestrian.charter@gmail.com

April 21, 2013 Open Letter to the Community in support of the rm Countryside Line as proposed in the Region of Waterloo's Ofcial Plan The Pedestrian Charter Steering Committee is a local volunteer citizens group whose goal is to promote and facilitate the implementation of the Pedestrian Charter in Waterloo Region. The Pedestrian Charter, as adopted by the Region of Waterloo in 2005, is a statement of principles about the value of walking. We support regional policy that makes our community more walkable, more transit-supportive and more urban. We believe that achieving these goals will improve everyones quality of life. A walkable Waterloo Region will be more equitable, more accessible, environmentally and scally more sustainable, safer, more cohesive, and lively. Everyones health and sense of well-being will benet. We have participated and offered our input throughout this latest Ofcial Plan development process, and have contributed to a number of design and planning initiatives in the years since our community adopted the Pedestrian Charter. Throughout this lengthy process we have supported the Regions plan for Smart Growth, including the xed Countryside Line, because such policy is compatible with the principles of the Pedestrian Charter. We have repeatedly expressed our opposition to policy that promotes low density development and dependence on the automobile. Our input has formed a part of the open and democratic framework that the Region of Waterloo has established and followed for this planning process. We are proud that the Region has both consulted broadly and shown leadership in determining a sustainable course for our future. This future is now in question because of a separate and unaccountable appeals process available to self-interested developers through the OMB. The Board's decision undermines the region's goals for Smart Growth and runs contrary to the principles of the Pedestrian Charter. We applaud the decision by the Regional Municipality of Waterloo to appeal the OMB's decision to the Divisional Court, and we are pleased that the Province of Ontario is supporting this endeavor. We thank them for all their efforts as they strive to build a more balanced and sustainable community. Margaret Santos Member of the Pedestrian Charter Steering Committee.