Ward 3 Candidates 2024: Housing
Scott Fitzgerald
Obviously all councillors want to make and keep their constituents happy as much as possible. The temptation will always be to side with them in the face of development that may be perceived as a negative to things like their property values. These concerns are real and important to homeowners and should not simply be treated as NIMBY. Unfortunately we are in a housing crisis right now and it didn’t happen overnight. Over the last 15 years, there have been many developments that did not happen in our city because of neighborhood opposition, and it has contributed to the housing deficit we have now. Council needs to have the courage to tackle the housing crisis by making meaningful change to the regulations that slow and prevent housing developments from happening, and it needs to have the courage to say to constituents that, for the good of the city as a whole, we need to support development. This doesn’t mean that all resident concerns are ignored and that every proposal, no matter what, is approved. We still need meaningful public consultation, we just need to focus on the greater good. The city has a responsibility to help ease this housing crunch and should do what it can to make meaningful contributions towards a solution.
The recent Village Mall housing proposal is, in general, a great move forward in alleviating the housing deficit we have. There are still lots of details that are unknown for this project (green space, parking, and transit access among them) but I do love the idea of bold proposals to tackle a huge societal problem we are facing right now.
Surely there are solutions to any issues that are presented. For example, in other cities, developers help pay for transit access in lieu of providing additional parking spaces for some developments. Sounds like an idea worth exploring. That being said, I think that a delay in approving this project may be appropriate to allow the new Ward 3 councillor, (whoever that is), some time to get up to speed on everything included in the proposal. I think that would be fair given that the development is in Ward 3.
Walter Harding
[To come]
Mark House
Housing is one of the most pressing issues in our city. While we’ve made strides with federal funding and regulatory changes, I believe we can go further. The proposal at the Village Mall is a great opportunity, but we need to ensure it strikes the right balance between adding new housing and maintaining quality of life for nearby residents. Parking, affordability, and building height are all crucial factors, and I would insist on clear communication and negotiation with the developer to meet our community’s needs. We must ensure that any new development includes affordable units, and I support further changes to planning regulations that incentivize the construction of more affordable housing.
I understand that developments of this scale can profoundly impact the character and functionality of our neighbourhoods, and I agree that transparency and a thorough public consultation process are critical. When decisions are made without ample information and without the public’s full input, it undermines trust and reduces the potential for a project that genuinely aligns with the needs and values of the community. In this case, the classification of the project as a “discretionary use” does appear to limit both transparency and meaningful community engagement, which are essential for informed decision-making on a project of this magnitude.
As part of my approach, I believe in setting a high standard for public involvement, especially for landmark developments. If elected, I would advocate for Council to pause, gather comprehensive information, and provide further opportunities for public scrutiny and dialogue. This step will allow everyone—from local residents to council members—to better understand the potential benefits and challenges of this project and propose practical improvements where needed.
Paul Morgan
I think the new development for the VIllage Mall is a positive initiative
● All over Canada groups and councils are looking more and more at parking lots that are not being used to their full potential as possible
housing and green spaces. These days a lot of people are working from home or using public transit and thus a lot of the parking spaces
are being underutilized. Perhaps the developer could cost share a Metrobus hub with all parties involved
● If my constituents are for or against certain housing units I would look at the merits of the situation and support them accordingly. We don’t
need to rush into potential issues as we need proper consultation with all parties involved.
● We need to remember that lack of housing is certainly a major issue that we need to deal with. I would certainly consider all factors for the
placement of housing from my constituents.
Greg Noseworthy
[To Come]