I am writing as a concerned…

I am writing as a concerned citizen who strongly believes that enhanced development standards at the lot level are essential to building livable, resilient, and healthy communities across Ontario. As Canada faces population decline, the livability of our cities becomes a critical factor in encouraging family formation and long-term settlement. People are less likely to start or grow families in environments that resemble concrete jungles. We must design cities that inspire, not deter, the next generation.
I have observed firsthand how thoughtful lot-level design, through green infrastructure like green roofs, and other LIDs, can dramatically improve the livability and safety of our neighbourhoods.
Municipalities should be empowered to require lot-level standards that address:
• Stormwater retention through green infrastructure like green roofs, bioswales, soft landscaping: Prevents flooding and reduces strain on municipal infrastructure.
• Tree planting: Improves air quality and reduces temperature at the street level.
• Soil volume standards: Ensure healthy tree growth and long-term canopy cover.
• Bicycle parking: Encourages active transportation and reduces emissions.
• Resilient landscaping: Reduces potable irrigation needs and maintenance costs.
These are not luxuries. They are public health and safety tools that help cities adapt to weather extremes, reduce smog, and prevent raw sewage overflows into our lakes.
While enhanced development standards may vary slightly, many municipalities have already aligned on key elements. For instance, Toronto, Mississauga, Halton Hills, Aurora, East Gwillimbury, King, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Clarington, Whitby, Ajax, and Pickering all require 5 mm of stormwater retention at the lot level. This common baseline reflects a coordinated effort to manage stormwater safely and sustainably across the province.
Green roofs are a widely adopted feature in many municipal Green Development Standards across Ontario, offering a cost-effective, long-term solution for managing stormwater runoff and reducing pressure on municipal infrastructure. To ensure consistent performance and safety, Ontario must integrate a Green Roof Construction Standard into the provincial building code to guarantee performance and safety across the province (the City of Toronto’s Green Roof Construction Standard is attached as a model for provincial adoption).
While the province is concerned about inconsistencies for builders, the reality is that different municipalities have different needs. Toronto and Mississauga face vastly different environmental and urban pressures than smaller communities like Wilmot Township. Some flexibility is necessary, but this can be significantly mitigated by standardizing the common elements of current Green Development Standards across municipalities. Thereby helping achieve exactly what the province seeks: more streamlined, standardized construction standards while continuing to ensure public health and safety.
The province should not prohibit municipalities from using planning tools to implement enhanced lot-level standards. Urban growth begins at the lot level. How we design individual lots shapes entire neighbourhoods, cities, and regions. Removing these tools would undermine municipalities' ability to build desirable communities while protecting public health and safety.
With many municipalities that have already implemented Green Development Standards or are in the process of development (Guelph, Waterloo Region, Hamilton, and Ottawa), it would be far more prudent for the province to standardize and support these efforts, rather than eliminate them. We need cities that are livable, inspiring, and safe. That starts with smart, green, and resilient lot-level design.