Two general points I wish to…

Two general points I wish to address are

1. Where we build: Pillar #2 in the Provincial Planning Statement proposes that one priority should be to “make land available for development.” I suggest that instead of removing protections from land in the Greenbelt or agricultural land to make it available, developers should be required to first use land currently sitting vacant that is already development-ready. In other words, “make land available for development” should be changed to “use available land within existing urban boundaries for development.”

2. What we build: Before any land is used for purposes other than affordable housing, the projected need for affordable housing should first be addressed. Locations in existing residential or commercial areas should be developed as Missing Middle communities, with the proportion of affordable housing being greater than anything that might be termed “luxury” or “upscale” or “high end”(with price tags that match the descriptors).

We need to stop developing in ways that suit the ageing demographic of wealthy SFD or condo owners, and instead need to re-envision the way we use land for work, recreation and living space. I urge you to consider what land use next generations will need in order to have “a place to grow” in ways the environment and natural resources can support.