Jan. 25, 2019 Ken Petersen,…

Jan. 25, 2019
Ken Petersen,
Director, Market Housing Branch
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
housingsupply@ontario.ca
re: Increasing Housing Supply in Ontario, ERO #013-4190

Dear Mr. Petersen
RE: Increasing Housing Supply in Ontario, ERO #013-4190

Dear Mr. Petersen,

Sustainable Brant is a registered not-for-profit that works to prevent sprawl and protect farmland in Brant County.

We fully support social housing and affordable housing but we are concerned that your document “Increasing Housing Supply in Ontario” will only perpetuate sprawl based housing. Sprawl eats up prime farmland, and it is expensive. Sprawl puts a burden on taxpayers, who are forced to pay for expensive new infrastructure - new roads, new water and sewer pipes.

It is important to plan housing where there is employment within urban settlement boundaries. We are concerned that your document will only put pressure on farmland.

“If agricultural land is lost to development, it is gone forever”. The OFA states: “Agriculture and agri-food businesses are leading economic drivers for the province, contributing nearly $40 billion in GDP and employing over 822,000 Ontarians. These farm businesses form the backbone of our robust food system, and rural communities, with the potential to drive the Ontario economy forward.”

The Growth Plan (2006) and Greenbelt Plan (2005) were introduced to curb expensive low density development that was driving up municipal taxes and debt, increasing gridlock, paving over productive agricultural land, leaving us with a legacy of failing infrastructure.

In response to housing affordability challenges we need a transparent, evidence-based municipal planning process to create more affordable housing options and work places in appropriate locations. A Land Needs Assessment (a calculation to budget for people and land) must be a key determinant of any plans to expand an urban growth area. If the province moves to allow urban expansion without using evidence based planning tools it will mark a return to a sprawl-dominated growth model that perpetuates gridlock, fails to address housing affordability, lowers productivity and increases property taxes.

Some large developers have expressed concerns that they can’t afford to pay upfront for infrastructure associated with their preferred growth model and are seeking provincial and municipal subsidies. However, they continue to build low-density expensive housing with relatively higher infrastructure costs even while a homeowners’ survey identified that 81% of homebuyers prefer smaller homes in transit friendly neighbourhoods...which are by necessity denser and cost less to service over the long term. Increasing urban and suburban density is an effective tool to manage infrastructure costs and reduce municipal debt by having more taxpayers living in a smaller area.

A regional planning framework is needed that supports a variety of housing choices and gentle density that makes transit affordable. More seniors housing and low income housing is needed in towns and city centres with easy access to shops and services.

Thank you for this opportunity to comment on Housing Consultations. Please keep us apprised of future Growth Plan or Greenbelt consultations.

Sincerely,

Ella Haley, Project Manager
Sustainable Brant