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

Debbie Chapman

City/Township Council · Kitchener Ward 9

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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. Use development phasing tied to infrastructure capacity
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
  • Kitchener already does most of these.
B. Managing neighbourhood opposition
  • We need to follow the official plan and the zoning bylaws. These are documents which have taken years
  • many hours of consultation and collaboration within the community and thousands of dollars to produce. Stick to the plan! Jane Jacobs talked about compact development
  • mixed uses
  • varied buildings
  • frequent streets and eyes on the street. Kitchener's OF and ZBs cover these areas. Neighbourhood opposition occurs when the 'plan' isn't being upheld.
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 support allowing ground-floor commercial near a transit stop. This is common practice in many metropolitan areas around the world. The City of Kitchener has already modified its zoning bylaws (ZBs) to accommodate extensive growth in the MTSAs and beyond. The City has also removed barriers to the approval process to speed up development. The Province mandated 3 residential units as-of-right on all residential properties. Kitchener's 4 units as-of-right on properties where zoning permits single detached, semi-detached or street townhouse dwelling units was passed in March 2024. The Growing Together bylaw allows for unlimited height in many areas. It also eliminates the parking space requirements in developments within the MTSA.

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

I oppose expanding beyond the countryside line.

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

It is unclear what is meant by outward growth.

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 would like to see a vacant land registry, holding charges, servicing agreements and phased approval conditions. To the best of my knowledge these have not been tried in Kitchener, but I would be happy to explore them further.