David Negrin, president of the Urban Development Institute (UDI), says the development industry welcomes the sustainability initiatives that were announced yesterday in the Provincial Throne Speech.
“These announcements are some of the most progressive in the country and will certainly have a significant positive impact on making our communities sustainable” says Negrin.
Negrin also noted that the Institute has undertaken initiatives of its own on housing affordability and the environment. “Over the past year, we have worked with other
stakeholders to look at ways to create more social housing and to reduce housing costs for low and middle income families. It’s a big challenge but the development industry has some solid recommendations.”
Those recommendations include:
- increasing densities around transit nodes
- supporting the EcoDensity initiative of Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan
- reducing regulatory requirements around parking
- creating stronger regional focus linking land use and transportation planning
- forming more creative partnerships with the non-profit, development industry and all levels of government to increase the supply of social housing.
Increasing density is an integral part of reducing the environmental footprint, says Negrin. “When you make it easier for people to live closer to where they work and use public transit, you not only reduce commuting time but you also reduce greenhouse gas emissions from car pollution. Increasing densities also leads to more housing supply and lower costs.”
“We have long been a supporter of initiatives that provide balanced solutions to the sustainability challenges facing the communities in which we do business,” says Negrin.
The provincial government’s initiatives also include broad consultation on several matters related to green technology which the Institute welcomes. “There is a lot of work to be done but we are prepared to do our part to ensure British Columbia leads the way in creating sustainable communities. The solutions are found when stakeholders meet and discuss issues from every angle,” assures Mr. Negrin.
