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

Scott Piatkowski

City/Township Council · Waterloo Ward 5

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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. Limit outward growth unless full lifecycle infrastructure
  2. Require detailed cost and risk analysis before approving
  3. Prioritize infill and intensification where infrastructure
  4. 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
  • Expand as-of-right zoning to reduce case-by-case political decisions on housing forms
  • Focus incremental density near transit, schools, and commercial areas
  • Require area-specific planning studies before permitting additional density
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

I think we need more housing over commercial spaces, including strip malls. An excellent example is 255 Woolwich Street, which has street level commercial (with parking behind) and residential units above (with entrances at the back). This is in a neighbourhood that is otherwise single family residential or green space.

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

A vacant unit tax would provide building owners with an incentive to keep units occupied. There are areas of the city where a significant number of housing units are boarded up, waiting until the owner decides to proceed with redevelopment. There are others where dilapidated buildings slated for demolition are occupied but are a blight on the neighbourhood because of the poor enforcement of property standards.

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'm very concerned about former gas station sites around the city being left vacant, not only because the land isn't being used, but because that vacancy is driven by wanting to avoid site cleanup. I want Council to request an inventory those sites and a strategy to encourage or possibly compel owners to clean them up and get them shovel ready for new development.