Changing the Planning Act…

Changing the Planning Act appeal process back from true appellate to trial de novo as under the old OMB is a retrograde step. Not because it curtails the power of the municipality to enforce or vary its own zoning bylaws, although it certainly does do that, but because it means in the communities themselves, the people no longer have the power to control their own places to live through their local councillors.

I am a developer and a resident of downtown Toronto. We build homes people want in communities where they want them. We need local consensus not the ability to override local consensus with a provincially-controlled board.

Non-consensual housing, housing imposed by central government diktat alwasy fails.

I have heard all the arguments in its favor, I could probably expound of them better than many of the advocates of centrist planning advising the province but all those arguments fail before the compelling need of people who live in communities to activity support and advocate for them.

It makes no difference whether the housing creating is stolid flat USSR-style blocks or something Prince Charles came up like Poundbury, if it lacks community support it fails.