May 17, 2006

Upping the housing density

Editorial appeared in Fort McMurray Today May 12, 2006.

The approval of a plan by Centron Residential Corp to assemble a community on Timberlea's Parcel D featuring higher densities of homes and apartments than anywhere else in Timberlea is a good step forward.

While it's unknown if the mixture of apartment buildings and homes will set a precedent in Fort McMurray -- there are many other high-density developments here, from the area around River Park Glen (still called the Syncrude towers by many old-timers) to the Longboat Landing neighbourhood to be built at the south end of downtown -- it represents a change from past plans.

With the sheer volume of growth in this region now, those plans are not worth the paper they're printed on.

It's a dream by many -- arguably most -- Canadians to own a single detached home. The residents of Saprae Creek, like many acreage subdivisions in order portions of Alberta, have taken that further, with homes that sit on one or more acres of land.

It's more room than you need to swing a cat. Room to play AC/DC at concert-like volumes. Room to have naked hot tub parties and remain out of eyesight of the neighbours.

Detached homes are the dream. But they're becoming impracticable in today's society.

There's the cost. Large lots drive up the price of homes by thousands of dollars. They eat up concrete and asphalt by the megatonne.

North America's obsession with detached homes is ours alone: the rest of the world seems to get by fine with higher densities, even in small towns.

Much ink has been spilled about how our spread-out subdivisions lead to ill health and hurt the environment. We get in the car or truck to drive a few blocks to the cormer store. Neighbourhoods are constructed with garages as the only visible feature from the street, and sidewalks are grudgingly installed here and there.

Fort McMurray is on the bandwagon. With so many vehicles lining both sides of almost every road in town and few sidewalks for pedestrians, most citizens just give up and jump in a vehicle instead of taking a stroll.

Higher density -- more homes per hectare -- is not only better for the environment, it's better for us.

The question of parking is still a troubling one. Complicated rules are used to determine how many spaces must be built per home or apartment.

Most people, including some regional councillors, agree the standard isn't high enough. Extra cars and trucks, some of them with company names on the side, can't fit into the assigned spaces.

A review is underway on the policy. It can't be wrapped up soon enough.

While developments with higher density are Fort McMurray's future, we need to require more parking spots now.

Otherwise, our descendants will be condemned to a big parking lot instead of a livable city.


© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today.

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