Background:

How do we grow without losing what makes Niagara-on-the-Lake special?

Niagara-on-the-Lake’s heritage, agricultural lands, villages, rural landscapes, and established neighbourhoods are fundamental to the community’s identity.

Growth and preservation do not necessarily have to be competing objectives, but achieving an appropriate balance will require deliberate planning.

Residents may want candidates to address:

• Protection of heritage properties and districts.

• Protection of our shorelines with respect to bird habitat and indigenous forests

• Preservation of agricultural lands.

• Development in rural areas.

• Building design and compatibility with existing communities.

• Protection of views, streetscapes, and landscapes.

• Adaptive reuse of heritage and institutional buildings.

• The cumulative impact of development on community character.

• The relationship between heritage preservation and economic development.

Key question for candidates:

How can Niagara-on-the-Lake accommodate a sensible rate of growth while protecting the heritage, agricultural and community character that residents value?