I support growth in the right locations, but infrastructure, transportation, municipal services and financial planning must be considered together before development is approved.
Chamber ACM question
I don't see this as a choice between being pro-growth or anti-growth. I support growth, particularly in the right locations and where it helps us provide the housing Esquimalt actually needs.
The issue for me is balance. We can't look at one development at a time and ignore the cumulative impact of thousands of additional residents on our sewer and water systems, roads, parks, transportation, fire protection, and municipal services.
Before we approve significant growth, I want us asking some fairly basic questions: What infrastructure will this require? When will we need it? What will it cost? And who pays for it?
That's one reason Development Cost Charges matter, and it's also why the upcoming OCP is so important. Housing, transportation, infrastructure, and financial planning need to be considered together.
Growth in the right places can actually make transit, infrastructure and local businesses work better. I support that. What I don't support is approving growth first and figuring out the consequences afterwards.
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