Cost of urban sprawl too high
So, there’s been a huge amount of speculation about what the recent motion by Councillor Justice (to discourage suburban sprawl) does/doesn’t mean from the standpoint of environment, water supply, traffic concerns etc. Most of us (who have an opinion) have shared our views as though we have a lock on the one truth.
Here are some points to consider:
1) it is perfectly legal for local government to table applications for any reason.
2) the proposed motion is designed to affect future rezoning applications
3) there is a huge backlog of developable land in MNC that will take many years to consume.
4) development will not shut down (see points 1 to 3). Plus development is occurring through out the region and other municipalities
5) zoning is never static and it is folly to assume so. It changes frequently and property owners have no guarantees — fair or otherwise, this is our system!
6) property owners have few entrenched rights — in fact, properties are only ever effectively leased — see what happens if you don’t pay property taxes.
The issue of pausing on future development is smart because we know that the current system is problematic. It would be completely irresponsible to continue down the same path. There are vast volumes of evidence and literature about the problems associated with the typical development pattern we see here and across most of North America. Unfortunately, many of the decision-makers, or people with influence have ideas that are informed by an earlier era — an era where everyone was entitled to their own home on their own piece of land, etc. Unfortunately, this 1950s-70s mindset has led to the immense issues faced by so many communities today.
Some of the problems associated with traditional development: financially unsustainable infrastructure, clogged roads, social isolation, inhospitable urban environments, car reliance, no parking, diminishing water quality/quantity, etc. Many of these problems associated with old-fashioned development ideas are not always evident to the untrained eye, but we experience their negative impacts. We need to stop viewing our urban environments as commodities for personal gain and instead see them for what they truly are. The community as a whole must benefit over the long-term from development not just an individual — it is time for a focus on the collective good. Thinking otherwise is myopic and ignorant of facts.
At the end of the day, some people will take the time to research. They will seek to understand the true costs to sprawl and otherwise and ill-conceived development. For those that do not have the time, or who are otherwise motivated, they might seek to pass off their partially-developed knowledge of the issue as all-encompassing fact and will make it more difficult for others to understand what the real situation is.
At the end of the day, it’s a simple question: are we prepared to make the necessary — but difficult — decision to change course given the obvious problems with our current trajectory or will we prefer to cling to the sinking ship simply because it’s what we know and are familiar with — oh, and because we bought a ticket, and we have a right to it!
One more thing — we need to stop putting each other down and finger-pointing. When it comes to the need to make change, we are all in the same boat and we have all played a role in the current situation. It is time for us to come together and try to find a way forward.
V.Bramhill
North Cowichan
