Meehan: Development fees don't trump smart planning
Solution:
1) No further development will move forward with my approval until we have a better plan in place.
2) Second, we need to ensure that development fees cover more of the cost of the development,
During the 2018 municipal election campaign, the big issue in Gloucester–South Nepean was roads and transit. In the south end of the city, we have a huge problem. Thousands upon thousands of new homes are being built, but the road and transit infrastructure has changed very little.
If you live in our ward and you work downtown or in the urban core, you face gridlock and snail-paced commutes regardless of whether you take your car or OC Transpo. As a candidate for councillor, I suggested Ottawa put the brakes on development until we solve the mess; now, after being in office only a short time, I am convinced that we can no longer allow residential development to continue as it has.
Just before Christmas I received plans for new community subdivisions along the east side of Bank Street in Findlay Creek. More people, more cars, but no plans to address the additional traffic that will only worsen the already-nightmarish commute.
After being in office only a short time, I am convinced that we can no longer allow residential development to continue as it has.
When I ask how residents will cope, I am pointed to plans for a few improved intersections to help traffic flow, and a 30-year plan that some day we will see LRT and that will make things right. Seriously? The glass is already full and we’re dumping another litre of water into it. This is unworkable, folks.
We need places for people to live, but there is a profound difference between smart growth and dumb growth. What the city of Ottawa continues to allow is not dumb, it is nuts. And it’s not just roads. There are no schools, recreational facilities, or stores to deal with this flood of new residents.
The city argues “but we need the development charges.” Yes, but those do not pay for additional busing, wider roads or capital costs to build much-needed infrastructure. That money comes out of the tax pockets of everyone in the city.
So, what is the answer? I said it once and I will continue to say we need to pump the brakes on further development in Gloucester–South Nepean, not forever, but until we catch up and can manage the rate of growth in a reasonable manner. No further development will move forward with my approval until we have a better plan in place.
Second, we need to ensure that development fees cover more of the cost of the development, and are spent in the community where they are collected. Continually asking existing homeowners to subsidize new communities is unfair and short-sighted, and given our current budget constraints, unrealistic.
This is a problem that has a solution. Ignoring the issue will not make the problem any smaller, I guarantee that.
https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/meehan-development-fees-dont-trump-smart-planning
Solution:
1) No further development will move forward with my approval until we have a better plan in place.
2) Second, we need to ensure that development fees cover more of the cost of the development,
During the 2018 municipal election campaign, the big issue in Gloucester–South Nepean was roads and transit. In the south end of the city, we have a huge problem. Thousands upon thousands of new homes are being built, but the road and transit infrastructure has changed very little.
If you live in our ward and you work downtown or in the urban core, you face gridlock and snail-paced commutes regardless of whether you take your car or OC Transpo. As a candidate for councillor, I suggested Ottawa put the brakes on development until we solve the mess; now, after being in office only a short time, I am convinced that we can no longer allow residential development to continue as it has.
Just before Christmas I received plans for new community subdivisions along the east side of Bank Street in Findlay Creek. More people, more cars, but no plans to address the additional traffic that will only worsen the already-nightmarish commute.
After being in office only a short time, I am convinced that we can no longer allow residential development to continue as it has.
When I ask how residents will cope, I am pointed to plans for a few improved intersections to help traffic flow, and a 30-year plan that some day we will see LRT and that will make things right. Seriously? The glass is already full and we’re dumping another litre of water into it. This is unworkable, folks.
We need places for people to live, but there is a profound difference between smart growth and dumb growth. What the city of Ottawa continues to allow is not dumb, it is nuts. And it’s not just roads. There are no schools, recreational facilities, or stores to deal with this flood of new residents.
The city argues “but we need the development charges.” Yes, but those do not pay for additional busing, wider roads or capital costs to build much-needed infrastructure. That money comes out of the tax pockets of everyone in the city.
So, what is the answer? I said it once and I will continue to say we need to pump the brakes on further development in Gloucester–South Nepean, not forever, but until we catch up and can manage the rate of growth in a reasonable manner. No further development will move forward with my approval until we have a better plan in place.
Second, we need to ensure that development fees cover more of the cost of the development, and are spent in the community where they are collected. Continually asking existing homeowners to subsidize new communities is unfair and short-sighted, and given our current budget constraints, unrealistic.
This is a problem that has a solution. Ignoring the issue will not make the problem any smaller, I guarantee that.
https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/meehan-development-fees-dont-trump-smart-planning
