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After being in office only a short time, I am convinced that we can no longer allow residential development to continue as it has.

When I ask how residents will cope, I am pointed to plans for a few improved intersections to help traffic flow, and a 30-year plan that some day we will see LRT and that will make things right. Seriously? The glass is already full and we’re dumping another litre of water into it. This is unworkable, folks.

We need places for people to live, but there is a profound difference between smart growth and dumb growth. What the city of Ottawa continues to allow is not dumb, it is nuts. And it’s not just roads. There are no schools, recreational facilities, or stores to deal with this flood of new residents.

The city argues “but we need the development charges.” Yes, but those do not pay for additional busing, wider roads or capital costs to build much-needed infrastructure. That money comes out of the tax pockets of everyone in the city.

So, what is the answer? I said it once and I will continue to say we need to pump the brakes on further development in Gloucester–South Nepean, not forever, but until we catch up and can manage the rate of growth in a reasonable manner. No further development will move forward with my approval until we have a better plan in place.