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

Matt Rodrigues

Regional Council · Region of Waterloo

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

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. Use development phasing tied to infrastructure capacity
  2. Limit outward growth unless full lifecycle infrastructure
  3. Prioritize infill and intensification where infrastructure
  4. Require detailed cost and risk analysis before approving
  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 3 per part
A. Planning & zoning tools
  • Expand as-of-right zoning to reduce case-by-case political decisions on housing forms
  • 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
  • Phase or adjust density in response to neighbourhood concerns about design or servicing capacity
C. Infrastructure & servicing
  • Approve density where infrastructure capacity already exists
  • Pair density approvals with targeted infrastructure 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

The Region of Waterloo no longer has planning authority to influence much of these conversations. I continue to support the expansion of our rapid transit network to enable more households to be one-car or no-car households over time.

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

I support the continuation of the Region's water allocation policy as one way to support coordinated growth and development that matches our ability to provide water (and wastewater) infrastructure. I fully support a continued push on intensification that reduces long-term costs and avoids expensive outward expansion.

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

In 2022, a key question on the Regional ballot was maintaining the Countryside Line in the Regional Official Plan. Since then, the Regional Official Plan has become the OP of the area municipalities. As a Region, we need to be proactive in how we plan and fund infrastructure to avoid future situations where infrastructure capacity is a limit to our ability to build new housing and support new jobs. As an urban planner, I have brought my perspective to Regional Council in helping navigate these challenges.

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

Engaging with landowners to identify if interim uses can occur. The Region has a limited authority in this realm.