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

Chantal Huinink

Regional Council · Region of Waterloo

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All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes Water
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
  • 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)
  • Eliminate parking minimum requirements
B. Managing neighbourhood opposition
  • Use public engagement to inform design, not to veto density
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

As Regional Councillor, I will advocate for the reduction of parking requirements. This will reduce overall housing costs and encourage the use of public transit rather than personal vehicles where possible.

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

As Regional Councillor, I will advocate that the Region and all of our partner municipalities implement a sunset clause whereby depending on the scope of the project, developers have a number of months or years to complete the proposal that has been approved.