Infill cannot meet all needs

Re: “Election could set terms for growth debate,” Oct. 1. “Experts” are saying continued sprawl is not the answer to Edmonton’s population growth.

Commentators like Alan Bolstad assume most of the city’s new housing can be accommodated within existing neighbourhoods. Reality suggests otherwise.

Alberta has received a record number of net migrants in the past year. Typically one-third of them settle in the Capital Region. These newcomers have driven down rental apartment vacancy rates and boosted demand for new and existing homes.

The lion’s share of new homes is built on the city’s periphery where tracts of suitable land are available. Infill development can only accommodate a small portion of the city’s needs for new housing, large projects like Griesbach and Blatchford Field being exceptions.

The most cost-effective process involves contiguous development on the urban fringe, ideally in all quadrants to encourage competition and choice and lower costs for homebuyers.

New neighbourhoods use land more efficiently than suburbs developed a generation ago.

Meanwhile, an overly-restrictive development approval process hampered by excessive containment policies will drive up the cost of new housing. This will discourage the newcomers we need to keep the economy growing. Richard Goatcher, economic analyst , Canadian Home Build ers ’ Association — Alberta , Edmonton