Builders not sold on plan

London Free Press Mon, October 27, 2008

RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT: 'Placemaking guidelines' for new suburbs will be discussed tonight at a city council planning committee meeting

By HANK DANISZEWSKI London's new suburbs will look and feel a lot more like older, more traditional neighbourhoods if city council adopts sweeping new housing development guidelines. Tonight, city council's planning committee will be asked to endorse new "placemaking" guidelines -- grid-like streets and rear laneways instead of winding loops and broad front driveways, for example -- that will become part of the official plan. But the plan is already raising concerns from London's builders, who worry homebuyers might not be sold on living in such developments. The city's planning department says the placemaking guidelines will create more neighbourly and environmentally-friendly areas. Some elements include: - A more traditional grid pattern of streets, instead of the meandering crescents and cul-de-sacs that discourage walking and public transit. - Denser development with more multi-family housing and more communal parkland. - Rear laneways that will replace the large driveways and garages that dominate suburban streets. - Natural features such as woods and streams integrated into suburban plans. Coun. Judy Bryant, chairperson of the planning committee, said the guidelines would create healthier and more attractive neighbourhoods. "This encourages children to play together. It means more eyes on the street. It will create a much richer public domain," she said. In a submission to the committee, the London Home Builders Association (LHBA) says it is willing to work with the city on implementing the guidelines. But the group said the strong homes sales London has seen in recent years shows existing suburb plans are popular. It worries Londoners may snub the new-style suburbs, especially if the homes are more expensive. "The response of 'build it and they will come' provides little comfort to the business that is faced with taking on additional financial risk. Will the homes sell in a timely manner or require the builder to carry an expensive inventory?" says the LHBA brief. The group also said the proposal for incorporating rear lanes and garages built behind homes can be impractical and potentially more costly. Bryant noted that a survey of people attending the London Home Show in January showed placemaking guidelines had consumer support. Ward 1 Coun. Roger Caranci, a member of the planning committee, said the guidelines are generally a step forward but the concerns of the homebuilders about increased costs have to be addressed. He said worries about rear lanes are well-founded, because the ones in older parts of his ward generate a lot of complaints from homeowners. "Some people take care of their portion others don't. The question of who is responsible has to be addressed," Caranci said.