I live across from a current…

I live across from a current urban development project on what was a large farm property. I do not object to transitioning old, non-productive farmlands to other uses that should include a return to natural growth rejuvenation areas as well as urban development.

I do object to building the same old and failed single expensive homes in a sprawling neighbourhood instead of a higher density development with more open recreational and light commercial use.

I also find it a fault of planning that allows developers to create these large urban / suburban developments with zero development of green energy like solar, wind or geothermal and no accommodation for EV charging built into the residences and roadsides or bike paths and other planning features to encourage reduction in private vehicle use.

To prevent farmlands from being sold for residential development or commercial development there should be strict criteria on the transition of farmland in Ontario.
A farm must be no longer productive to a large extent as the lands are now nutrient poor or suffer from other material imbalances.
A farm cannot be sold to a development company without conditions that any building must include set minimum density requirements, inclusion of green energy and high efficiency materials and an restriction on NG or other fossil fuel energy sources in the designs.
Inclusion of ToU metering, energy storage and orientations to maximise solar generation must be included in the designs and plans.
Farmland sold for development should be subject to capital gains taxation, while lands sold to remedial restoration would be exempt from any gains taxes and cannot be resold for 10 years or more except to return to agricultural use.