All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes

Barb Elliott

City/Township Council · North Dumfries Ward 4

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All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes
This candidate finalized their responses after this guide and scoring methodology was published.

Growth & Planning

How should councils weigh the long-term cost of maintaining existing infrastructure when making decisions about outward growth and expansion?ranked from highest to lowest importance
  1. Prioritize infill and intensification where infrastructure
  2. Require detailed cost and risk analysis before approving
  3. Use development phasing tied to infrastructure capacity
  4. Limit outward growth unless full lifecycle infrastructure
  5. Proceed with outward growth to address housing supply
How should councils balance provincial and regional mandates for increased housing density with neighbourhood opposition and local infrastructure constraints?select up to 4 per part
A. Planning & zoning tools
  • Expand as-of-right zoning to reduce case-by-case political decisions on housing forms
  • Focus incremental density near transit, schools, and commercial areas
  • Allow small-scale housing forms city-wide as-of-right (e.g. up to four units per lot)
  • Require area-specific planning studies before permitting additional density
B. Managing neighbourhood opposition
  • Use public engagement to inform design, not to veto density
  • Phase or adjust density in response to neighbourhood concerns about design or servicing capacity
  • Require demonstrated city-wide benefits to justify local impacts
C. Infrastructure & servicing
  • Approve density where infrastructure capacity already exists
  • Pair density approvals with targeted infrastructure upgrades
  • Use development charges or conditions to fund needed upgrades

Describe one concrete zoning, planning, or development decision you would support (or oppose) that reflects how you would balance these priorities.candidate's own words

I would support gentle density and more housing choice in appropriate, fully serviced settlement areas, while opposing premature settlement-boundary expansions onto productive farmland or sensitive water areas. Any expansion must demonstrate a clear need, adequate infrastructure capacity, sound financial planning, and a commitment that developers—not existing taxpayers—will pay their fair share of growth-related costs.

Please describe one concrete example of a growth or infrastructure decision you would support or oppose using this approach.candidate's own words

I would oppose premature approval of a large greenfield subdivision or settlement-boundary expansion until there is a transparent lifecycle-cost analysis, confirmed servicing capacity, and a phased funding plan. Developers must pay their fair share of growth-related infrastructure costs, and Council should first demonstrate that reasonable housing options within existing serviced settlement areas have been considered.

What can the municipality/region do, if anything, about land which sits vacant for years because it is being used as an investment (land banking)?candidate's own words

I support a transparent registry for approved but undeveloped land, together with phased approvals and servicing agreements that include reasonable construction milestones. The Township should identify real barriers to building, but should not allow approved land to sit indefinitely while taxpayers fund infrastructure or pressure grows to expand onto farmland.