The propositions:
1. Support for a strong site alteration by-law, with emphasis on “strong.”
2. Renewed commitment to an annual allocation towards an environmental lands acquisition fund.
3. Standing firm in support of the prohibition against future country lot subdivisions.
4. The City’s Advisory Committees should be genuine bridges between the public and Council.
Scott Moffatt:
#1: “In the rural area, I strongly believe that rural landowners shouldn’t be subject to policies that prevent them from using their land as they see fit. A stronger site plan alteration bylaw in the urban area would help protect wood lots and greenspace that are keys to creating great communities but I wouldn’t support that type of by-law in the rural area, where farmers could be restricted in clearing their lands for agricultural purposes.”
#2: “There have been several instances that have come up in this term with regard to the Marlborough Forest and the potential to acquire more lands but we haven’t had the funds. I have supported a commitment to acquiring natural lands in the past and would continue to do so in the future when it would be practical to do so.”
#3: “During the Official Plan Review process, I was in support of continuing the estate lot subdivision moratorium mainly because we already had 2900 lots either in the queue or already approved and awaiting development. In the future, I feel we need to review those 2900 lots to determine whether or not they’ll every be built. Following that, we’ll have a better idea of how many more homes would be built in estate lot subdivisions. In my opinions, some of this type of development is good and others are not. It all depends on access to services. If a potential development has poor access, we shouldn’t develop that site. If we ever revisit this policy, location needs to be a prime objective.”
#4: “There is a fine line between good Advisory Committees and bad Advisory Committees. I feel that before we made this most recent change, there were too many. I wouldn’t necessarily suggest we now have too few but I would like to see more applications for membership. At Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee, of which I am the Council liaison, we received so few applications that we had difficult time filling the spots on the Committee. At the moment, we only have six. We need to do a better job attracting people to fill these roles and ensure that the Committees are properly aligned with our Standing Committees.”
The other candidate did not respond.