If we don't make developers pay for community amenities they are not going to include them out of the goodness of their hearts.
They are a business whose job it is to make money. Building a liveable community is a secondary consideration. That's why we have local governments whose job it is to stand up for our collective best interests.
It's not lost on us that the councillors in North Cowichan currently arguing for developers to face fewer requirements from the municipality say the current mandatory tree cover and affordability responsibilities are too onerous and want them cut back, or gone altogether. That's to say nothing of collecting funds for parks, trails, firehalls and other infrastructure.
But don't we want to build the best neighbourhoods possible? Consider that the most desirable neighbourhoods in urban areas are those with tree-lined streets and public green spaces, sidewalks, bike lanes, walking trails and public transit. (As we've mentioned in a previous editorial, had Langford and other Greater Victoria communities required developers to contribute to a fund for commuter rail into the city it would be a reality by now.)
Tree canopy isn't just about looks, either. It plays a vital role in cooling our urban areas — both streets and homes — during increasingly common heat waves, as well as absorbing pollution and improving air quality in ways human interventions can't manage on that kind of scale.
Of course it is cheaper to develop a bare plot of land than to have to save some of the trees or replant. And yes, keeping some nature means you can't develop every single square foot for indoor living. We'd argue that indoor living is already far too often the only thing that's considered in many new builds that would be vastly improved if thought was also given to outdoor spaces which could range from decks and balconies to garden areas.
Yes, we need housing and that's what developers do. They're not the enemy, but we can't be naive about what their goals and responsibilities are. They need to be able to make a profit. That means keeping costs as low as possible and maximizing their investment.
Looking at our communities as a whole, outside the boundaries of a particular plot of land is what our local governments must do. Their responsibility is to all of us, not just developers. This is playing out in communities across the Cowichan Valley, the province and the country.
Given the demand for housing, developers are not going to be losing their shirts if they are required to contribute to the communities from which they're going to profit. What is their fair share? That's the balance that must be found.
