White Rock has already experienced significant overdevelopment, and I have been pushing back against excessive development in our community for years. In fact, I created my “No More Highrises in White Rock” website and Facebook page back in 2012 because I was concerned about where this was heading.

When I served on Council from 2018 to 2022, I worked to reduce maximum building heights and densities. My successful motion to reduce maximum heights from 24 storeys to 12 storeys in areas where the previous plan allowed 24 was ultimately incorporated into the 2021 Official Community Plan. This followed more than three years of public input and discussion.

We listened to residents, we respected their concerns, and we made changes.

I also worked every year to find ways to reduce taxes and be more frugal and responsible with taxpayers’ dollars. I worked with the City CFO to identify opportunities to reduce taxes, although unfortunately Council did not support the tax reductions we proposed.

There is still much work to do.

Our single-family home builders have been largely neglected, with some smaller builders reportedly waiting years for approvals. That is not acceptable. We need a development approval process that works for homeowners and small builders.

I have also consistently advocated for our local businesses, who face a significant tax burden while too often feeling that their needs are overlooked by City Hall. After the City removed solid waste collection for businesses and stratas in 2017, I successfully moved on Council to restore that service. Unfortunately, the process that followed was never put into practice in a way that made the service readily accessible to businesses and stratas.

City Hall should be looking for practical ways to support our local business community and make it easier, not harder, for them to operate, invest and succeed in White Rock.

I don’t accept the argument that White Rock needs unlimited high-rise development simply to expand our tax base. We have already added substantial density and tax revenue over the past decade.

The question now should be:

Is White Rock getting the kind of development that improves our community and makes our city more livable? Are we getting value for our taxes dollars?

A city with no development can stagnate. We need development, but also we need the right kind of growth that respects our neighbourhoods and preserves the small town character that makes White Rock special.

We need to focus on the community we already have. That means improving our aging infrastructure, ensuring we have safe, reliable drinking water, maintaining our roads and public spaces, reducing unnecessary tax burdens, supporting local businesses, and making City Hall more responsive to residents and the local business community.

What about amalgamation with Surrey?

I don’t believe amalgamation would solve these problems. If anything, it would give White Rock residents and local businesses less say in decisions affecting our community.

We should be making decisions about White Rock in White Rock.

I am also concerned that becoming part of a much larger municipality could make it easier, rather than harder, to pursue excessive development in our community.

The better answer is to elect responsible leaders to White Rock City Council who will put residents and local businesses first.

The 2021 OCP provides a much better foundation for responsible growth because it was developed with extensive public input. We should respect that work rather than continually increasing density whenever developers ask for more.

I am running for re-election to White Rock City Council because I care deeply about this community and want to continue the work I began on Council. I want to help build a better White Rock, one that preserves our sense of community and small-town feel, supports our residents and local businesses, and manages growth responsibly.

The October 17, 2026 election gives White Rock residents an opportunity to choose the direction they want for our community.

I hope I can count on your support.

While others make promises to get elected, I make promises that I keep. I have a track record that proves it.

It’s our City by the Sea. We should have our say!

Scott Kristjanson

Candidate for White Rock City Council

White Rock City Councillor, 2018–2022