Urban Planning Solutions for Sustainable Cities and Regions
A diverse group of urban planners, developers, and environmentalists gathered in Old Montreal with a crucial message: addressing housing crises, aging infrastructure, flood damage, and soaring living costs can be achieved through smarter city and regional planning.
Jeanne Robin, secretary of the ARIANE alliance, emphasized that these crises are interconnected and require a holistic approach. Rather than just treating symptoms, it’s essential to address the root cause by reevaluating how municipalities and regions are developed.
As the provincial elections draw near, the group urged political parties to focus on five key commitments:
1. Preserving existing infrastructure to ensure safety and resilience, emphasizing the value of built heritage for sustainable development.
2. Investing in strategic infrastructure like water management and public transportation to enhance community resilience.
3. Planning for adequate housing to address the housing crisis and homelessness.
4. Building in strategic locations that reduce travel distances, protect ecosystems, and avoid urban sprawl.
5. Protecting agricultural land and natural environments to promote food self-sufficiency, climate resilience, and biodiversity conservation.
The coalition stressed the importance of making well-informed decisions on where and how development occurs to benefit both the environment and the economy. They plan to engage with political parties to secure concrete commitments before the upcoming elections.
