Berry Vrbanovic
City/Township Council · Kitchener
Back to candidatesThis 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
- Prioritize infill and intensification where infrastructure
- Use development phasing tied to infrastructure capacity
- Limit outward growth unless full lifecycle infrastructure
- Require detailed cost and risk analysis before approving
- 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)
- Maintain existing zoning; manage density primarily through new growth areas
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
support as-of-right permissions for missing-middle housing in all neighbourhoods
Please describe one concrete example of a growth or infrastructure decision you would support or oppose using this approach.candidate's own words
prioritizing state-of-good-repair over new expansion
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
Servicing agreements with construction timelines and lapsing approvals