VOTE4RACHAEL.THOROLD
Transparency and Accountability in Development
The houses we are building fail to be affordable for most of our city’s population. The amendments we make to zoning will continue to result in issues that the developers don’t stick around for, such as flooding, accessibility challenges, and rodent infestation.
Thorold is rather undeveloped, compared to Niagara’s larger cities. We are also poorly mapped, which allows for large-scale developments to come in with minimal restraints. Thorold also gives too much to developers, entertaining and even allowing for sweeping amendments to our current zoning practices.
It’s long overdue for Thorold to have the proper mapping of our protected landscapes, and to have ecologists involved in the development process from the beginning stages.
It’s time that Thorold stops handing over valuable land to developers that do not stay for the repercussions of their zoning amendments.
Instead of developers asking us to squeeze in buildings that put our citizens at risk on many levels, we need to start demanding that they demonstrate a commitment to affordable housing in Thorold. We need to stop accepting money to pay for green space offsetting and make it clear that our green space cannot be amended.
Vision
-City-hired ecologists involved in the development process at the beginning stages
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-Support and advocate for Mixed-Use Urban design; filling in current boundaries while respecting the current neighbourhood design.
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-Redirect our current urban sprawl and work towards building walkable communities - more amenities in our neighbourhoods and reduce the need for vehicular travel.
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-End the sweeping zoning amendments that later result in issues with infrastructure and public safety. Instead, work with developers to make a commitment to affordable housing in Thorold.
