The president of the Georgian Triangle Development Institute (GTDI) believes trust needs to be built between municipalities and developers.
Brittany Robertson was recently named to her second term as president with the organization.
Robertson, an engineer, serves as manager of land development for C.F. Crozier and Associates, where her primary role is working with clients on servicing storm water management and working on residential subdivisions across Simcoe County.
Robertson was also recently named to the board of directors, where she will be dealing with corporate governance.
“Her commitment to advancing the industry along with her relationship-first approach and versatile skillset are a welcome addition to the board, and a vital asset to the firm’s direction as we continue down the path of strategic growth,” Chris Crozier, company CEO and founder, said.
Robertson enjoys working with the GTDI, which includes a variety of professionals involved in the development industry, including realtors, engineers, planners and developments.
“We act as a voice for the development industry and allow us to be heard on a different level than as individuals,” Robertson said. “I really appreciate bringing together a group of collective professionals. People who really know the area, to provide perspective to decision makers.”
South Georgian Bay, like many communities across Ontario, is facing a housing shortage, especially attainable housing.
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Robertson said attainable housing has been one of her key objectives over the last several years. She believes governments and developers need to work together.
“I find the municipalities and the development communities are working towards the same finish line, but they don’t seem willing to utilize the resources of each other’s groups to achieve things faster,” she said. “Instead of constantly taking the lens of the big, bad developer or the lens of the municipality not wanting to work with them, we have been trying to bring the two groups a little bit closer together. We need to build trust between the two, so they feel the other is acting in their best interest and not working against each other.”
In October, Robertson was appointed to the Town of Collingwood’s Mayor Task Force which includes a team of developers, industry representatives, and senior municipal officials and was struck to help find funding solutions for major projects, including the $270-million expansion of the water treatment plant.
“They are facing infrastructure costs that they’ve never seen before and weren’t prepared for,” she said. “They really need to embrace the development community who would open them up to access to other resources they don’t have.”
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