The Toronto Star
Sep. 6, 2003

Network to combat urban sprawl
24 groups join at founding meeting
Quebec suburbs more compact

Chris Winter, network coordinator and executive director of the Conservation Council of Ontario, said in an interview good planning means compact design built with people's needs in mind.

"We need infill and density but we need to do more than plunk down housing. (As it is) we're building houses as opposed to communities," said Winter.

The network includes groups such as the conservation council, Transport 2000 Ontario and the Eastern Canada Chapter of the Sierra Club.

On its Web site (http://www.greenontario.org/smartgrowth/osgn.html) the network reports 24 groups signed on at the founding meeting in July, and another 30 are considering membership.

"The formation of the network marks a challenge to the provincial and municipal governments and developers to stop urban sprawl," according to a recent news release announcing the group's formation.

"Smart growth won't happen unless we stop urban sprawl," said Winter. "Only with compact urban form can we begin to plan cities and neighbourhoods for cleaner air, better transit, walkable neighbourhoods, efficient services and vibrant communities."

The network will become part of the North American "smart growth" movement that aims to change the face of urban development, says the news release.

Winter said Toronto needs to aim for a European model of development where houses are smaller and services are within walking distance.

He said Montreal's more compact suburbs are more liveable communities. Towns such as Dorion, for example, are building row housing instead of single-detached units. Restaurants with large outdoor patios and other services are typically within walking distance.

"Quebec is European in nature. We're still in the pioneer mentality," said Winter.

The typical Toronto-area suburb has a school and a recreation centre, said Winter. For every other activity, he said, we have to pack the kids in the car and drive.

"We're planning for middle-aged families, people who have cars and can use them. We're not planning for the very young or the aged."

The network's priorities include:

Protecting ecologically significant areas, prime agricultural land and drinking water sources.

A moratorium on planning, building, widening or extending 400-series highways until an environmentally and economically sustainable Ontario-wide transportation plan is in place.

Shift the priority of senior levels of government from investments in highways to public transit and change tax policies to support urban intensification.

Winter called for a ban on development on some lands to force developers and municipalities to think compact. Until such restrictions are in place, there's no incentive for developers to do it on their own.

"In London and Paris the infrastructure is measured in centuries, not decades like here. The mistakes we make today we'll be paying for 200 years from now," said Winter.

PAID joining forces in fight against highway expansion

A local group is thinking big when it comes to fighting plans to expand Hwy. 427 north.