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By Debbie Ranney Ever since he was a child Bill Thomson wanted to become involved in planning the fuâ€" ture. As the chief planner of the Waterloo Region, he‘s got a lot of opportunity to exercise that Regional Planner Bill Thomson grew up in the north end of Hamilton where ‘"our playground was the streets and we grew up under the smoke from the steel plants. We learned to live in that kind of environâ€" ment,‘"‘ he said. He became a planner beâ€" cause he felt there could be a better way of living for people of a lower income. "I figure I‘ve played a small part in trying to help,‘‘ Mr. Thomson said. Indeed, Mr. Thomson must play a big part in the planning of the region. Since becoming the planâ€" ner for the Waterloo Reâ€" gion, Mr. Thomson has been responsible for preparing the official policy plan for the region. He prepares the settleâ€" ment plan (where people are going to live) for the region. To do this he must look at the relationship of settleâ€" ment to the environment. He must look at the agriculâ€" Thompson creating a living plan for future PHONE OR COME IN TODAY WE CAN ASSIST YOU. HAVE YOU DELAYED PURCHASING A MEMORIAL? 528 Victoria St. N., Kitchener (Beside Weston Bakeries) 745â€"6136. After hours 578â€"7154 Large Indoor Showrooms SUPERIOR MEMORLALS SCRIBE BOOK STORE 2nd Floor Waterloo Square @ Special Orders @ School, Office, Social Stationery Kitchener Waterloo 579â€"0700 886 â€"3420 Mc Clurkin, Schlegel & Partners Chartered Accountants Schlegel, Moore & Robertson 938 King Street West Kitchener McClurkin, Seguin & Hymers and will continue their practises as PRINTED MATTER Westmount Place, Waterico â€" 576â€"7290 Market Square, Kitchener â€" 576â€"8270 Have Merged With vironmentally ‘sensitive areas, the regional transporâ€" tation system and the ruâ€" ral settlement pattern to be able to plan for that patâ€" tural He sees his job as being, to make sure the relationâ€" ship between the people and the environment is a good one. Then it is up to the loâ€" cal municipalities to impleâ€" ment those plans. Regional planning apâ€" pears to be working out all right according to Mr. Thomson. ‘"As far as planning is concerned it‘s been acceptâ€" able for many years," he said. Regional planning started with the Waterloo County Planning Board when rural and city people got togethâ€" er for the first time. The people from the cities and rural areas were asked about the settlement patâ€" tern and the environment. The region then planned their strategy for growth and had a pretty good reacâ€" tion from the people, acâ€" cording to Mr. Thomson. Planning for the region in the future should be a lot easier because according to Mr. Thomson, the region is going to grow a lot slowâ€" er than a lot of people hoped it would. ‘"‘Thére is going to be a reasonable rate of growth in the region,‘"‘ he said. The rate of growth in the region has slowed down in the last four years beâ€" cause of economical and poâ€" litical reasons, according to Mr. Thomson. With this slower growth rate, the region is going 4 Arthur Street North, Elmira se x f us CX * 'ii i * husk * id 408 £ TL tap ns + Mn gh T .mCE s Fi * * % . % + M \.l{ "i .\i. * 4+ ‘v"__“ wos Ne ** E t..., "'r-‘\ l“t: & }fi‘i‘h ; 4* » ns -Am.. L. > <4 669â€"5429 Elrmura to have time to do other things like rehabilitate oldâ€" er houses, and revitalize the hamlets. There will still be subâ€" divisions and single family houses though. The slower rate of growth is going to give the region a breathing space so they can see what they‘re going to do about more water io wlrink, flood control, and the staging of streets. cially is much better than ‘"The region is well on its way to a good reasonable rate of growth where it won‘t cause economic probâ€" lems. The planning finanâ€" There‘s quite a variety for you to choose from in a new shipment we‘ve just received . . . from $8.50. Neat for yourselif or as a gift! ‘CROSS STITCH® ' CUSHION KITS COLOR TV‘s â€" STEREOS FURNITURE GROUPS 3 ROOM GROUPS OF NEW FURNITURE INCLUDES PORTABLE TV â€" 18 PIECES IN ALL SIX PIECE BEDROOM SUITE 20" COLOR PORT. 26" COLOR TV STEREO COMBO pbMex 10 â€" 10 DAILY â€" CALL NOW 579â€"4140 NO $ DOWN â€" NO PAYMENTS TILL FEB. 77 ON A FARMER JACKS BUDGET ACCOUNT BUY HEREâ€"â€"â€"PAY HEREâ€"â€"â€"INSTANT DELIVERY The region can make and styles to fit into his we‘ve ever done in the past,"‘ Mr. Thomson said. Agricultural land won‘t lieve either. Mr. Thomson said that from now till the about .08 to .09 acres of land per hour. That‘s about 15,000 to 20,000 acres of land for urban development but that won‘t all be good agricultural land. Mr. Thomson thinks that lower cost town housing could be created by land Demo & Guaranteed Includes Stand «« PRECAST CONCRETE STEPS ~ SAVE MESS, FUSS & TIME Includes Double 54" Boxâ€"Matt siting and he believes that there‘s no excuse for poor design anymore. s ideas. It‘s J:st a matter of sure that good agriculâ€" tural land is not used for urban _ development g:mnd in this region willâ€" to experiment with new ideas. It‘s just a matter of body else will have to creâ€" Add to the beauty, safety and value of your home Reinforced concrete Unit Steps can be instalidd quicklyâ€"without piles of sand and cement on paths and lawns. The oneâ€"piece construction avoids "frost heave" damage. Builtâ€"in safety treads protect your family. 108 sizes in stock. Preowned & Guaranteed but y, November 10. 1976 â€" P. ate the economic developâ€" ment for the farmer such as the provincial and federal governments. Mr. Thomson thinks that later on urban people will up lots in the rural areas. _ ‘‘We‘re going to try and keep urban people in the city,‘‘ Mr. Thomson said. “9. 219. : 671. Â¥+