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

Marty Rempel

City/Township Council · Waterloo Ward 5

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

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
No response
How should councils balance provincial and regional mandates for increased housing density with neighbourhood opposition and local infrastructure constraints?select up to 3 per part
A. Planning & zoning tools
  • Require area-specific planning studies before permitting additional density
  • Before approving major increases in population, Council should ask: * Is there sufficient water and wastewater capacity? * Can stormwater be managed without increasing flood risk? * Can roads and intersections accommodate the additional demand? * Is transit frequent and reliable enough? * Are schools, parks and recreation facilities adequate? * Can emergency services respond effectively?
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
C. Infrastructure & servicing
  • Approve density where infrastructure capacity already exists
  • Delay density until infrastructure is expanded

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

believe Waterloo needs more housing, and I do not think established neighbourhoods should be frozen in time. However, I also don’t believe that every neighbourhood should be expected to absorb high-rise development simply because it is within the existing urban boundary. I would support allowing appropriately designed duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhouses and similar forms of “missing middle” housing without requiring a rezoning application, provided they meet predetermined standards for height, setbacks, parking, tree retention, stormwater management, privacy and building massing. The greatest density should continue to be directed toward major transit corridors, ION stations and other areas where infrastructure can support it.

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

Building anything while water supply is in question

Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on growth?candidate's own words

Keep the decision making process as local as possible

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

Calculate the full lifecycle cost before approving expansion.I’m

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

Council could examine whether the existing taxation treatment creates enough incentive to develop appropriately zoned vacant land, and advocate to the Province for stronger municipal tools if it does not.