Densification foes not being selfish

Simon O’Byrne’s comments to the Edmonton chapter of an international real estate development association are hardly surprising, as these are the very people who will profit from greater housing densification in mature neighbourhoods.

Mr. O’Byrne, as an urban planner, is certainly qualified to express his own opinions, but that does not mean everyone must agree with him. He dismisses opposition to densification as being selfish.

Mr. O’Byrne is Stantec’s vice-president of community development and it is not clear whether he was speaking as a private citizen or on behalf of Stantec. If it is the latter, such a position is selfserving. Stantec will directly benefit from increased densification in terms of contracts for planning, design and construction work with the city and developers.

I am sure that there are Edmonton-based Stantec executives and employees who would not wish to have their single-family residential neighbourhood suddenly transformed by Mr O’Byrne’s proposed zoning changes and the subsequent construction of duplexes, row houses and 12-storey buildings.

Kenneth C. Porteous, Edmonton