Not too late and urgent

Last week, the Bay of Quinte Greens hosted an evening event with three development experts. Their common theme was that what we are doing is wrong: 1) we are not building liveable and sustainable communities; 2) building and operating our buildings still relies on fossil fuels; 3) geothermal heating and cooling is not part of Ontario’s energy plan; 4) sprawl development is ruinously expensive. Ontario has a massive infrastructure deficit caused by building out more and more services—water pipes, sewers, roads, gas lines, and electricity grid. Municipalities cannot afford to maintain what has been built, yet still approve more. They then hold their hands out to other levels of government, forgetting that no matter how many levels of government, there is only one taxpayer.

It does not have to be this way. Up-to-date Official and Secondary Plans can include contemporary urban design principles such as walkable communities and sustainable energy provisioning. It is not pie in the sky—neighbouring communities like Kingston, Port Hope and Cobourg already have it in hand. And progressive developers have shown a willingness to follow rules if rules are in place. Unfortunately, in the County, they are not.

In answer to a question, one of the speakers agreed it is reasonable for the County to want growth—it can be rejuvenating, it brings opportunity, and there has not been enough of it. But what is needed is a Planning staff that is aware and knowledgeable of contemporary urban design issues and a Council that is unafraid to lead. When growth comes knocking, rules can be in place and negotiations with developers can be productive.

Today, growth in the County is not just knocking, it is hammering at our door. Base31 will double the size of the County’s population in just twenty years—and Picton’s by seven times—requiring new highways, hospitals, schools and long-term care homes we already cannot afford. It is not too late to learn from our neighbours like Kingston, Port Hope, and Cobourg. In fact, it is urgent that we do so.

Don Wilford