Tim Baliasak — Principal Issues, Priorities and Commitments (derived from the candidate presentation)

 

Key Priorities and Issues Identified

• Managing growth throughout all Niagara-on-the-Lake villages, not just Old Town.

• Implementing contextual zoning, particularly in Glendale.

• Ensuring consistent and appropriate planning policies for future development.

• Preparing for the projected growth associated with Glendale and its anticipated population increase.

• Managing increased residential traffic resulting from new development.

• Recognizing that each village (Old Town, Virgil, St. Davids, Queenston and Glendale) has different needs.

Developing a long-term recreation plan to serve both active retirees and young families.

• Creating a responsible tourism strategy that balances the needs of residents and visitors.

• Integrating traffic planning, tourism planning and recreation planning into a coordinated municipal strategy.

• Modernizing municipal development policies so they reflect current growth realities. Improving infrastructure, particularly active transportation infrastructure.

Specific Promises and Commitments

• Implement contextual zoning in Glendale and throughout the municipality.

• Develop policies to manage growth and development across all villages.

• Establish a long-term recreation plan for the community.

• Create a tourism strategy that promotes responsible and sustainable growth.

• Bring the existing traffic plan back to the table and continue work on it.

• Coordinate traffic, tourism and recreation planning rather than treating them as separate issues.

• Update municipal development policies so developers clearly understand the town’s expectations.

• Represent residents with a united vision based on consistency, hard work and dedication.

• Support the continued use of the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT).

• Use MAT revenues to improve infrastructure, particularly pathways and active transportation.

• Require short-term rentals to pay the same accommodation tax as hotels.

 

Notable Quotes

• “We need a long-term vision for a recreation plan and how it will serve the community as a whole”

• “We need to create a tourism strategy for responsible and viable growth to see balance for both residents and visitors alike”

• “The developers need to know when they come to town exactly what it is the town is looking to do.”

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