Balancing provincial growth targets with small-town character

I don’t think there is a simple answer to this question, and I don’t want to pretend there is.

I understand the residents who say, “I moved here because I liked the small-town feel and I don’t want it to change.” I understand that because those are many of the same things I value about New Tecumseth.

But we also have to be realistic. Growth is coming, and much of the amount of growth we are required to plan for is being determined beyond the municipal level.

So for me, the question becomes: if we cannot simply say no to growth, what do we want New Tecumseth to look and feel like as we grow?

My vision is that Alliston, Beeton and Tottenham remain distinct communities, surrounded by the rural and agricultural landscape that is such an important part of New Tecumseth’s identity. I want neighbourhoods where people can walk to parks and trails, where families have enough room to actually live, where there are different housing choices for young people, families and seniors, and where our downtowns and local businesses continue to be part of the heart of our communities.

I want growth that is planned around people not simply around the number of housing units we can fit onto a piece of land.

That means realistic parking, safe streets and sidewalks, trees and green space, recreation, accessibility and neighbourhoods that connect with the community around them.

Most importantly, housing cannot continually get ahead of infrastructure. Roads, water and wastewater, parks, recreation, schools, emergency services and traffic all have to be considered as we grow.

And we need to be very conscious of who ultimately pays for it. At a time when many residents are already struggling with affordability, I have serious concerns about growth creating additional financial pressure on existing taxpayers.

Will New Tecumseth look exactly the same 20 years from now? No. I don’t think it is realistic for any candidate to promise that.

But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have a clear vision for what we want it to become.

For me, that means keeping the character and identity of our communities while building places where people of different ages and incomes can live, work, raise their families and eventually retire.

We can’t stop every change. But we can have a much stronger say in what that change looks like and make sure we’re building a community, not simply building houses.