Langford Mayor Stew Young seeks another 4 years
by Mary P Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
Monday, September 17, 2018
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The development of housing and infrastructure in Langford is key to building the economy and providing services for residents and businesses.
Last week at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention in Whistler, Mayor Young garnered support from mayors and councils around the province.
Support for his City of Langford motion that calls for review and revision of the proposed BC Speculation Tax now allows UBCM to call on the Province “to replace the approach in the current proposed Speculation Tax with a provision to empower local governments to collect a levy on vacant residential properties and to require local governments that choose to impose such a levy to invest the revenues in non-market housing.”
In that way, each municipality would have more specific and more appropriate control of how the taxation of vacant properties (if any) is managed in each of their communities.
Stew Young has been mayor of Langford for over 25 years and was recognized at UBCM in 2017 for that accomplishment.
The high-profile mayor and is running again for 2018-2022 (election date October 20, 2018). Stew Young’s approach to developing infrastructure and densifying the residential and commercial areas of town is largely responsible for the burgeoning population (now over 40,000) and robust economy of Langford.
Economic strength of a growing city makes possible a range of recreational infrastructure and support for the arts. Roads have been improved over the years, along with installation of sidewalks and bike lanes.
New major developments like the West Shore Parkway (which now effectively connects the Westhills side of Langford over to Bear Mountain) is a boon to economic growth and is a community showcase. The new Belmont Residences community in west Langford will be home to 1,500 people once it’s ready (first occupancy starting winter 2020). These are just two examples of the applied vision of Stew Young who cares deeply about his home town.
Full article on page 1 in the September 14, 2018 West Shore Voice News weekend PDF digest.
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