1. Should a new OCP allow increased density in Brookswood and Fernridge?
Yes, but we have to be very careful where we can add density, how much density and when can we add density so that the needs of the residents are met with the smallest environmental impact to its special ecosystem.
2. Should Township council act to slow down development of Willoughby?
Yes, by many accounts, Willoughby is in crisis. The current pace of development has little regard to the liveability of Willoughby. As a Township, we need to take stock of Willoughby and create a revised vision and plan for this area. As many residents have told me, we need to pause so that infrastructure and schools can catch up. We can always revisit development in the area when the circumstances allow for growth.
3. Does the Township do enough to help ensure there are enough schools in developing areas?
No, our council has done a poor job of managing growth in our developing areas which is clearly evidenced by the overcrowding issue in our schools. Our council, in approving development after development, is directly responsible for adding more students into a maxed out school system.
4. Would you vote in favour of a tax increase?
Yes, my preference would be to see that it at most keeps pace with inflation
5. Would you support tolling ALL Metro Vancouver bridges to fund transit?
Yes, so that tolls on the Port Mann and Golden Ears can be brought down. We need an evenly dispersed regional transportation strategy that does not penalize residents south of the Fraser River.
6. Would you support road pricing to fund transit?
No, our residents must travel farther distances in order to access certain goods and services and this would unfairly penalize us, especially given that we have no viable transportation alternatives.
7. Would you support increasing property taxes to fund transit?
Yes, a small increase should be borne by everyone in Metro Vancouver. In order to get certain services, we unfortunately have to pay for it.
8. Should a tree protection bylaw be applied to the entire Township?
Yes, it doesn’t make sense that we do not have a tree bylaw when other municipalities have protected these community assets.
9. Should developers be required to provide more low-income housing in the Township?
Yes, we need to be more socially responsible.
10. Should the Township create more bike lanes and public cycling infrastructure?
Yes, bikes are an extremely healthy form of transportation and their use should be encouraged.
11. Do you support the construction of high rise developments in Willoughby?
No, certain heights may be acceptable in certain locations, but we don’t need to turn Langley into Vancouver.
12. Should the Township open sales of municipal lands to public scrutiny in advance?
Yes, I am a strong advocate of community input in our decision making process.
13. Should the Township commit to building the Aldergrove rec centre and pool regardless of land sales?
Yes, it is clear that a new rec centre and pool would bring vibrancy into this neglected community.
14. Should the Township ensure that roads, sidewalks, and crosswalks are in place prior to the completion of new developments?
Yes, we should enhance our Development Cost Charges and charge developers an Amenities Cost Charges to provide our necessary infrastructure and amenities as we develop our communities. Infrastructure and amenities should not be an afterthought.
15. Is the Township doing enough to protect agricultural land?
No, recent decisions by this council (Wall development and Tuscan Farm, for example) clearly show a disrespect for ALR land.
16. Does the Township need more parks?
Yes, although we have some great parks, we can use more to build a greener Langley.
18. Should more firefighters be hired, even if it means a tax increase?
Yes, operating with three instead of four-person crews is below industry standards and increases the risk to firefighters. It can also mean longer wait times before firefighters can enter a burning building, because a three-man crew is too small to meet a “two in, two out†WCB safety rule that forbids them from going in alone. A four-person fire crew has one supervisor and one person in charge of equipment, which leaves two available for entry. On the other hand, a three-person crew doesn’t allow for safe operation and requires a crew to go into a defensive mode by waiting for backup. In a defensive mode, valuable time is wasted. We don’t expect our other employees to work in unsafe working conditions so why would we expect our fire department?
19. Should more RCMP officers be hired, even if it means a tax increase?
No, it’s expensive and easy to say that we need more policing; what Langley needs is better community planning and design. Communities must be planned and executed based on sustainability principles such as those found in the tenets of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). Research has shown that with proper design and effective use of the built environment, the opportunity for crime and fear of crime can be reduced. Through their involvement in design and construction, architects, planners and builders can influence the creation of safer neighbourhoods and communities. For example, in our own neighbourhoods we can design roadways to discourage through-traffic, build more public spaces and maximize the residents’ ability to use and view them, provide appropriate lighting for streets, paths, alleys, and parks and encourage residents to watch over each other through community groups