Brampton - For a city approaching half a million residents (roughly the same size as urban New Orleans), Brampton has a remarkably coreless appearance. Drive along the main traffic corridor of Highway 410 and the lack of residential and commercial density is striking in comparison to similar central avenues in Mississauga, North York and other GTA cities. Why has Brampton become the poster child for uncontrolled urban sprawl?

Intense lobbying and campaign support helps ensure developers continued access to easily developed vacant lots, while the municipality continues to take a laissez – faire attitude to the problem, citing zoning restrictions and provincial government mandates that" force" them to allow the city to creep ever outwards.

Geographic realities created by the amalgamation of Brampton and Bramalea have been overlooked in favour on promoting the traditional "Old Downtown" over the actual central region of the city.

High density and mixed use land proposals have been shelved in favour of easily developed and highly profitable subdivisions.

This has been the Brampton way for more than a decade, leading to horrendous congestion, longer and longer commutes for working families and a city ever increasingly vulnerable　to fuel costs.

So what is the alternative? Well a master plan more in line with the principles of Smart Growth and the "new" urbanism is certainly a great place to start.Smart Growth believes at it's core that cities should use the ecological infrastructure, mixed use developments planning and an overall desire to reduce dependence on automobiles as the way forward for the modern municipality.So what does this mean for Brampton?

"Municipal master plans, rather than zoning, should form the central guiding principle in land use planning and development. Zoning was never meant to replace master plans- the roles have become reversed" - Brian Horachefsky, Smart Growth Institute of America

The Brampton Problem
Zoning codes based on outdated development patterns limit development to one type of construction only, leading to massive housing developments (often of cookie cutter similar homes), abutting vast retail outlets adjoining huge business parks. Development is piecemeal, roads and infrastructure created, new extensions and subdivisions added, rinse and repeat. The end result is a community ever more dependant on cars, families spending longer and longer times apart and cities struggling to keep services inline with growth.

The Smart Growth Solution
·  The ecological Infrastructure of the entire region is considered from the beginning of the process. Representatives from all sectors of the community are involved directly in decisions about land usage.

·  Long term planning is encouraged over short term development.

·  Vertical and infill developments based around central, easily accessed hubs are encouraged.

·  Mixed use retail, business and residential centres are given primary consideration, reducing commute times and creating vibrant, active living spaces.

The Long Road Home - "The average one hour commutes equals 12 works weeks a year spent inside the car, driving to and from work" - National Geographic, Sept 2005

The Brampton Problem
Transportation Infrastructure is designed to feed cars onto main thoroughfares leading to traffic congestion and increased pollution density.　Inconvenient mass transit and isolated retail complexes force more and more people into cars for daily necessities. Roads are widened to ease congestion, which leads to more drivers using that road, leading to new congestion, leading to renewed calls for expansion.

The Smart Growth Solution
·  Mixed zoning allows for shops, restaurants, offices and homes to be located within close proximal distance of each other

·  Fewer car trips are required and more community interaction opportunities are created. Communities are created within the greater metropolis, leading to safer, more vibrant live-work relationships.

·  Cities become less gas dependant (useful as the summer of $1.50 a litre looms). Stores are placed close to streets, parking in the rear, creating pedestrian friendly avenues and a greater sense of walking comfort.

Now these solutions may seem to be too little to late, as much of Brampton has already been zoned, built up and paved over. However, as Save Castlemore and the Greenvisions movements have shown us, change is possible, if public will is strong enough. The city of Brampton needs to develop more business, a more dense and vibrant core and a way for Bramptonians to live without being completely reliant on the car. The fact that we can save the last few pieces of open spaces left in our community (and high grade farmland to boot) is something all Bramptonians should be able to get behind, both for us and for our future.