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91原创 Township: Anna Remenik talks Brookswood, density, and pot rules

The mayoral candidate hit many of the key issues in the Township election.
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Anna Remenik, running for mayor of 91原创 Township, sees most of the community鈥檚 problems as coming from too much density without a plan.

Homelessness, crime, crowded schools, shortage of doctors, and lack of housing are all linked, she said.

On specific issues, Remenik said the Township can鈥檛 keep building roads 鈥減iece by piece by piece,鈥 as 208th Street in Willoughby is being developed.

鈥淚 think we need a different model for that,鈥 Remenik said. She wants to see whole blocks built at once, including sidewalks and roads.

If development ever falters, some roads could be left half-built for years, she noted.

First known for opposing the Brookswood Official Community Plan update that was approved last year, Remenik believes development there may still have to be stopped.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 really sad, that that OCP鈥檚 in place now,鈥 she said, saying there had been no environmental consideration on the impact of that much planned development on the local aquifer.

Remenik would like to see a full study of the aquifer.

鈥淲e definitely need to know what that area can sustain,鈥 she said.

If the aquifer can鈥檛 deal with it, the Township legally couldn鈥檛 move forward, she said.

Proposed and approved towers in the Willoughby area on 200th Street are a concern for Remenik, who said she isn鈥檛 sure how traffic from them will be mitigated.

And echoing her concerns about Brookswood, she said she worries development could damage the aquifers underlying Willoughby.

鈥淗ow much more damage are we going to do?鈥 she said.

With marijuana legalization just days away, Remenik said the Township should look at what other communities are doing on rules for retail shops, rather than reinvent the wheel.

She also opposes industrial pot growing on ALR land, where ground is paved over.

On the issue of the Quality Inn supportive housing project, Remenik said she鈥檚 aware of the pushback from neighbours of the site.

鈥淲e need buy in from everyone,鈥 she said, and an approach that makes everyone involved happy.

She would consider the pros and cons of a municipal police force replacing the 91原创 RCMP, but said she wasn鈥檛 a big fan of the idea.

鈥淚 think we have to look at the difference in cost,鈥 Remenik said.

Finally, in the wake of a dispute over one sitting Township councillor鈥檚 business bidding on a Township contract, Remenik said that councillors, mayor, and staff shouldn鈥檛 be allowed to bid on Township projects at all.



Matthew Claxton

About the Author: Matthew Claxton

Raised in 91原创, as a journalist today I focus on local politics, crime and homelessness.
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91原创

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