I am generally supportive of…

I am generally supportive of measures that enable more housing, particularly those that promote gentle density, such as reduced minimum lot sizes and more flexible, mixed-use land designations.

However, I have several concerns regarding the broader impacts of the proposed legislation:

First, the removal of municipal authority to require enhanced development and green building standards risks undermining long-term environmental sustainability and resilience. While streamlining is important, municipalities should retain the ability to require higher-performance standards where appropriate, especially in growing urban areas.

Second, I recognize the need to streamline approvals and limit delays caused by excessive or duplicative consultation processes. However, as decision-making authority becomes more centralized, it remains important to maintain transparency and ensure that planning decisions are made with clear, consistent rationale that the public can understand and trust.

Third, while the bill includes provisions related to transit-oriented areas, it does not clearly articulate how these planning changes will support high-quality, accessible, and affordable transit. Ensuring that land use planning reforms are aligned with strong transit outcomes should be a priority.

Finally, I encourage the Province to ensure that parkland policies continue to deliver high-quality, usable public spaces. While flexibility for encumbered lands and POPS may improve efficiency, safeguards are needed to maintain the quality and accessibility of public parks.

Overall, I support the goal of building more housing, but I urge the Province to balance speed and standardization with strong environmental standards and high-quality urban design outcomes.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback.