Skip to content

Q14: 20 Questions for Langley Township Council candidates

Rick Green (for MAYOR) – There must be a review of our Development Cost Charge Funds and the legislation allowing us to do so. There also has to be a full review on the potential for CACs (Community Amenity Contributions). Through both of these reviews I believe we can do a much better job in preparing the necessary infrastructure going forward.

Petrina Arnason – YES Public safety is jeopardized when residents move into a community without adequate infrastructure. The Township of Langley recently endorsed an “Age Friendly Strategy” and should be utilizing this as a lens for all new development regarding the provision of safe communities for all ages. 

David Davis – Yes. After basic services are in.

Bev Dornan – No. the roads and sidewalks are paid for by development and as that progresses then the monies are in  place to complete the infrastructure.  If we completed before, then taxes would have to be raised to pay for this.

Charlie Fox – No, not if you don’t want a substantial tax increase. How would you propose we pay for these – tax dollars – NO! Developers pay for this now but to change this process as your question asks is not simply about roads, sidewalks and crosswalks it is about buying the land up front and then doing the infrastructure like water, sewer, telephone etc. and those costs have to be covered by residents in this plan and the only way to do that is tax dollars!

 Clint Lee – 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.

Patricia Lessard – NO, the Council has a mandate for balanced budgeting and to put the roads, sidewalks and crosswalks in before the completion of new development would not work financially.  We do however need to find ways to keep residents safe through the development and construction phases.

Bob Long – Yes it does - these works are concurrent with and dependent upon development.

Kevin Mitchell – YES.  The current idea that developers will complete this infrastructure once all the development in a particular area is complete is exactly why a senior was killed crossing an unfinished section of 72nd Avenue this past September. How many tragedies need to occur before this council wakes up and makes this issue a priority?

Jackie Mandzak – Yes. Basic infrastructure should be in place prior to the completion of new developments.  As a public safety issue, when we leave roads to be completed on the developers schedule we are left with piece-meal patches completed.  This causes safety issues for pedestrians and drivers alike. One only has to look at 208th and the length of time it is taking for that road to be completed to see that there are issues in allowing it to be done after development. 

Scott Nichols – Yes. This is one of the challenges in Willoughby.  I believe the infrastructure must be in place prior to completion of new developments. Traffic flow should be well-regulated and roads must be well-maintained. There must be adequate parking and safe drop-off areas.  Priority parking and drop-off spots must be available for people with special needs. 

Angie Quaale – No. Again, why should people that live in established communities face property tax increases to pay for infrastructure in growing neighbourhoods related to the costs the developers should be paying ?

Kim Richter – YES. This business of waiting for development to finance road and sidewalk improvements is nonsense and a reflection of poor planning. If neighbourhoods have to wait for development to get proper sidewalks, crosswalks and roads, then Township Council should be limiting development to very small areas before agreeing to open other areas. Safe and complete infrastructure to support a development area needs to be in place by the time that people move into these developments.

Blair Whitmarsh – No- would be ideal but unrealistic in some situations.  Certainly it makes sense to have as much infrastructure in place upon completion of a development but that is not always possible.