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

Stephanie Stretch

City/Township Council · Kitchener Ward 10

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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
  3. Limit outward growth unless full lifecycle 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 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)
  • Use area-specific planning where additional density raises significant questions about infrastructure
  • built form or neighbourhood context
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 supported Kitchener's decision to permit up to four residential units on eligible lots across the city. I also supported its new Official Plan. That creates more housing choices through incremental density within existing neighbourhoods.

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

I have supported substantial growth around major transit areas. Growing Together East alone created planning capacity for more than 35,000 homes around the Block Line, Fairway and future Sportsworld transit areas. My approach is not that every neighbourhood needs exactly the same form or scale of development. I support more housing and greater housing choice, while also considering infrastructure capacity, neighbourhood context, green space and the services required to support growth.

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

Kitchener needs more housing, but successful growth also requires water capacity, transportation, parks, community facilities and other infrastructure. I support adding housing in established neighbourhoods and significantly more density around transit while planning the infrastructure and public spaces that allow those neighbourhoods to remain good places to live, where people are proud to live.

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

Municipalities should use the legal tools available to encourage development-ready land to move toward construction rather than remaining vacant indefinitely. I would consider tools such as servicing agreements with clear timelines, phased approvals and expiry provisions where legally available. Before introducing a new tax or charge, I would want evidence that it would actually accelerate development, clear provincial authority to implement it, and an assessment of unintended consequences.