Rob Hargrave
Rob Hargrave
Candidate for Ward 4 Councillor
Rob Hargrave, a Stouffville resident for more than 35 years and former councillor with 15 years of municipal experience, is running to represent Ward 4.
His campaign centres on managing growth through long-term planning, ensuring developers contribute to the infrastructure needed to support new development, and addressing traffic congestion and safety concerns.
- Municipal Experience: Previously served through multiple terms on Council and worked on long-term planning initiatives.
- Growth & Development: Development, including substantial growth in Baker Hill, was identified as a leading concern in Ward 4.
- Development Charges: Says development charges should be secured before construction begins to help cover infrastructure and community facilities needed to support growth.
- Traffic & Safety: Wants residents more directly involved in addressing congestion and traffic safety as the population grows, including implementation of a Traffic Committee.
- Long-Term Planning & Costs: Says development planning must account for both the initial cost of facilities such as libraries and arenas and their ongoing operating expenses.
What Is Your Background, and Why Are You Running for Office?
Hargrave says he has lived in Stouffville for more than 35 years, calling it home for his family and friends. He describes the community as inclusive and multicultural, while noting the pressures created by its growth.
He says the Town needs to ensure its planning processes and systems can accommodate development and its financial effects. Hargrave contextualized the demands of growth by dividing those considerations into infrastructure, such as water, roads and sewers, and community services, including playgrounds, libraries and arenas.
Regarding the role of development charges, Hargrave said they are key to ensuring developers contribute to the infrastructure and community facilities required to support new development. her argues those charges need to be secured before construction begins, acknowledging that developers may resist increases but maintaining that the Town needs them to manage growth.
What is the leading issue facing Ward 4 residents, and how would you address it?
Hargrave identified development, particularly the substantial growth planned for Baker Hill, as the leading issue facing Ward 4. He says the Town needs to ensure appropriate planning and development charges are in place to support that growth.
He also points to increased traffic and congestion as consequences of a growing population, describing safety as a longstanding priority during his 15 years on Council.
In response, Hargrave wants residents to have a more direct role in addressing traffic concerns. He proposes establishing a traffic committee made up of York Regional Police representatives, residents, Town Staff and a councillor to identify and address issues as they emerge.
He says traffic pressures will continue as the community grows, making ongoing collaboration and resident involvement important to finding solutions.
What does responsible growth look like to you?
Hargrave says responsible growth depends on sound long-term planning, pointing to his experience on Council, where the Town worked on five-year and 10-year plans.
He says the municipality should better assess the developers coming forward, where their projects will be located, how quickly they are expected to be built, and how they will affect the broader community. That planning should focus on ensuring infrastructure and services commitments come with it, he added.
Hargrave also emphasizes the long-term financial implications of building community facilities. Libraries and arenas require not only initial construction funding but also ongoing operating and maintenance budgets once they are built.
As an example, he questioned whether a proposed library expansion could meet the community’s needs at a smaller scale with a lower capital cost. Such decisions about development and public facilities, Hargrave added, must consider the ongoing operating costs that follow, since residents ultimately pay for them.
