Candidate Response – Drew Plaxton

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Positing Running For: Ward 1 Councillor

 

I am running for Midland Town Council because…

I am running for councillor in Ward 1 because I feel that I have something to offer in terms of professional experience and having a different perspective from most other candidates.

My vision for Midland is…

Midland needs to move forward as opposed to the stagnation we have faced over the past number of years and its results; the highest municipal tax rate in the county; a population that does not grow and little or no job availability for our young people.

I will accomplish this vision by focusing on the following three things…

1) The Midland Bay Landing site will be a continuous waterfront with walkways and bike trails, a live, work and play environment with a mixture of residential, commercial and park space with a fabulous western view over Midland Bay.
2) Lower the municipal portion of all our tax bills – The last council was presented with a KMPG study which should be further examined for cost savings. We also need to examine our costs in relation to other municipalities in the area.
3) Eliminate the political infighting within council. We need a council that will work together as opposed to what we have seen over the past 4 years

Describe your top three accomplishments that make you a good candidate for Council. For current or previous members of council, please focus on your top three in that role.

1) I would like to mention my marriage to my wife Arlene of 30 years next March. Anyone who does not think this is applicable has not been married long enough in my opinion.
2) I have worked as a professionally designated appraiser for over 25 years now, I have a CRA designation from the Appraisal Institute of Canada. I am responsible for my own work and am accountable for it on a daily basis.
3) I served on the Unimin Site Steering Committee and am committed to seeing this development happen.

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Read Other Candidate Responses:

Mayor

Gord McKay (incumbent) | James Downer | Sid Hutchinson | Stephan Kramp | Jonathan Reid

Deputy Mayor

Malcolm Dilts | Ruth Hackney | Bob Jeffery | Doug Reed | Mike Ross

Ward 1

Jim Attwood | Scott Campbell | Patricia File | Andrew King | George MacDonald | Jonathan Main | Steven Marks | Zena Pendlebury | Drew Plaxton

Ward 2

Glen Canning | Jack Charlebois | Jack Contin | Carole Nichols | Cody Oschefski | Ute Schmid-Jones

Ward 3

Frieda Baldwin | Stewart Strathearn

5 Comments on "Candidate Response – Drew Plaxton"

  1. Drew, you mention “Using a starting point of 2,500 units on the property at $300,000 each, that equals $750 million in development.” Would this be referring to condominium units? If so, how do you propose we attract 2500 families (based on 2.5 people per family, 6250 people) or almost increase the population of Midland by 33%?

    • Midland Community | October 1, 2014 at 2:12 pm | Reply

      Hi Trevor,

      Would you like us to submit this question as a potential question for our Candidates Meet & Greet on October 6? If yes, do you want us to include your name?

    • Hi Trevor,
      Thanks for the question.
      First off, you’ll notice that I said 2500 units, that means a mixture of commercial/office space and condominium properties with a build out time frame of 10-15 years upon completion. It will not happen overnight.
      I would like to see a conference centre and hotel of some sort on site as well as some type of educational facility focusing on things that matter to us. Water levels, water quality freshwater marine biology come to mind. This would bring in a fresh flow of younger people in year after year. Some will stay, some of their parents will buy – and yes condominiums.
      Real Estate uses a term called Highest and best use, for this site we will require a certain density in order to pay for the things that the public wants on site. The good thing is that the property is big enough to accommodate both with the overall assessment growth dictating an overall tax decrease (not accounting for inflation)
      The big thing is to create a number of different attractions throughout the site that will encourage people to come down and be able to walk/bike throughout the entire site to a series of different attractions spread throughout Midland Bay Landing through an uninterrupted waterfront trail. An infinity pool that turns into a skating rink in winter, an outdoor theater, small parkettes with playground equipment, a toboggan hill, picnic tables, a beach area (which I believe can be created at the northeastern section of the property by digging in a lagoon with a small opening to the bay so we can control the depth and restrict watercraft) restaurants with outdoor patios, shopping facilities and docking and launching facilities for boaters and cottagers.
      If you have driven up Yonge St from Toronto recently, you can see development spreading north like a wave. We are at the watching that wave coming towards us and this site will attract a lot of people if we give them enough things to see and do.
      I have not even mentioned the western view which is spectacular as well as unique. As the saying goes, Location, Location, Location.

      Best Regards,

      Drew Plaxton

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