Higher Downtown Density Target Threatens Sprawl Plans

ryan_mcgreal · #1 Posted **Mar 5, 2009, 5:49 PM**

The city's planning committee has rejected a motion by Councillor Brian McHattie (Ward 1) to increase downtown density targets from 250 persons+jobs per hectare to 400.

Staff don't want to increase the downtown density targets because that might threaten the city's greenfield expansion plans. As city planner Bill Janssen explains:

Quote:

The one concern that we have with increasing, or having a target in the plan that we don't know we can achieve, it may impact what other development can be undertaken, particularly in greenfield developments. [emphasis added]

Isn't that the point of intensification - to limit suburban sprawl?

http://raisethehammer.org/blog/1252

omro · #2 Posted **Mar 5, 2009, 5:51 PM**

This is mind boggling. So many alternatives exist.

Greenfield sites should stay that way, green. *sigh*

It wouldn't be such a big deal if they didn't want to change the targets, because they might be difficult to implement, that's fine. However to keep them where they are just so that greenfield lands can be forever taken away....

Duckyboy · #3 Posted **Mar 5, 2009, 9:14 PM**

Bizarre... utterly bizarre.

adam · #4 Posted **Mar 6, 2009, 3:38 AM**

Higher downtown density is slowly happening whether they like it or not.

urban_planner · #5 Posted **Mar 6, 2009, 3:43 AM**

give it 5 years.

adam · #6 Posted **Mar 6, 2009, 9:31 PM**

A friend from Toronto is living west of the downtown for 2 months and couldn't get over how everything closes at 5pm. I hope we reach a breaking point soon where businesses see that they can make some decent profits by being open normal hours!

realcity · #7 Posted **Mar 10, 2009, 3:29 PM**

Thanks Ryan for exposing them on this issue.

Boy staff is really serious about improving downtown aren't they.