Waterloo — Mayor
3 candidates responded
Dorothy McCabe See responses
- Prioritize infill and intensification where infrastructure
- Limit outward growth unless full lifecycle infrastructure
- Require detailed cost and risk analysis before approving
- Use development phasing tied to infrastructure capacity
- Waterloo has done all of this already except for bullet 5.
- Staff recommendations regarding development plans must be carefully considered prior to making decisions. They provide expertise which Council must consider.
- Planning can't proceed without the necessary infrastructure. Municipalities ability to charge and use DCs has been significantly restricted by the provincial government's new DC Reduction Act program.
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
My track record on housing approvals speaks for itself. Waterloo has a progressive planning regime.
Please describe one concrete example of a growth or infrastructure decision you would support or oppose using this approach.candidate's own words
I spoke strongly for maintaining the countryside line. Waterloo continue to prioritize infill developments.
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
The provincial government has created 'use it or lose' it options for planning approvals which are not being developed. This is a new option which can be utilized.
Jamie Hari See responses
- Prioritize infill and intensification where infrastructure
- Limit outward growth unless full lifecycle infrastructure
- Require detailed cost and risk analysis before approving
- Use development phasing tied to infrastructure capacity
- Proceed with outward growth to address housing supply
- Expand as-of-right zoning to reduce case-by-case political decisions on housing forms
- 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
- Use public engagement to inform design, not to veto density
- Proceed with adopted plans when facing local NIMBY opposition
- 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
A big part of our water infrastructure issues is sprawl. Transit corridors should prioritize public use and dense residential, not more McMansions.
Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on growth?candidate's own words
We can't and shouldn't tell people where to live, but we can prohibit wealthy corporations and individuals from taking far more than is sustainable or than they even need.
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
While it's currently impractical to entirely stop contracting public works to private industry, we can tighten up contracts significantly with developers who consistently overcharge, under-deliver, and get away with no accountability. Similarly, while we can't ban landlords, I would propose making it far less profitable to speculate undeveloped and underdeveloped land in the city with vacancy taxes and increase civic pressure with a public land registry.
Jeyas Balaskanthan See responses
- Expand as-of-right zoning to reduce case-by-case political decisions on housing forms
- Eliminate parking minimum requirements
- explore ways to reduce the amount of development that is concentrated near arterial roads and highways and expand missing middle development options across neighbourhoods.
- Use public engagement to inform design, not to veto density
- Approve density where infrastructure capacity already exists
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
As Mayor, I would support the examination of expanded as-of-right permissions for missing-middle housing within established neighbourhoods. For too long we have pushed higher levels of density onto arterial roads and busy intersections that expose renters and new homeowners to high levels of noise and air pollution. Increasing the missing middle doesn’t mean instant change overnight - it means incrementally growing within our city in a way that balances the needs of those who don’t have adequate housing with existing communities.
On the ballot but have not responded to survey (2)
- Jerry Jiang
- Shannon Weber
Full candidate list: CBC Waterloo Region election coverage ↗