Visions for the GTTA

Caledon turf war about urban sprawl - Toronto Star

An article in the Toronto Star has a take on the development problems in Caledon, and includes a handy map for reference.

Essentially, what it boils down to is that the Town doesn't want new development in Bolton to be greenfield development - they want new construction to be intensification within existing borders. But, in my opinion, the townspeople don't want intensification (because it is wrongfully associated with high-rise buildings), the town has demonstrated that it has no desire to force the issue, and has even taken steps to prevent intensification from occurring. In essence, the article is about where we want the urban sprawl to take place - not if we want urban sprawl at all.

So, we're back to square one.

Town council needs to separate the issues here, because developing south of Bolton and intensification within Bolton are two unrelated issues. The former can be a political issue if it wants to be, but meaningful steps has to take place to ensure the latter can occur. No one is asking to rebuild Mississauga City Centre in Bolton, and the town has to take a stand against people who fear that stacked townhouses are a sign of the apocalypse. Local transit needs to be introduced to complement the GO bus improvements that are coming soon and train service just over the horizon.

Caledon has a desire to retain its agricultural heritage, and unless meaningful intensification takes place, take a wild guess where they are going to be building houses...

Labels: municipal sillyness, politics, urban design

posted by Andrae Griffith @ 2:00 p.m.