ISSUE: Council rejects plan to put retail jobs on land slated for business park.
It has been seven years since Ontario passed its Places to Grow Act and since then, the mantra of the province and many municipalities has been to build communities where people can live, work and play.
In northern York Region, that presents a particular challenge, since many people already commute south for work and there aren’t enough jobs locally to employ all of the area’s residents.
Nonetheless, it’s important municipalities strive to draw as many good jobs as possible to the region, helping more people live and work locally.
Aurora council upheld this principle Tuesday night when it shot down an official plan amendment request from SmartCentres.
The developer wanted to build retail and office space on land the town has designated for higher quality employment, such as corporate head offices.
Council made the right decision, as Aurora, and northern York Region in general, are rife with shopping malls and plazas and the primarily low-paying jobs they bring.
There is little land left for development in York Region, so what is available needs to be directed toward creating jobs that pay enough to allow people to live and work in the same area.
Newmarket has built to its borders, so new development there is now focused on intensification, such as the proposals to build more residences in the Glenway subdivision and 16-storey towers at Slessor Square, near the intersection of Yonge Street and Davis Drive.
If Newmarket is to attract more major employers, those companies are going to have to redevelop land that’s already in use.
East Gwillimbury has much more land for development and is scheduled to grow rapidly, with its population quadrupling by 2031.
Development there will also include employment lands and, as a recent labour market study the town underwent in partnership with Georgina indicates, more high-paying jobs are needed.
According to the study, conducted in partnership with Georgina Trades Training Inc., 49 per cent of East Gwillimbury residents commute to Toronto for work. Just 5 per cent travel within East Gwillimbury to get to work.
All of northern York Region’s municipalities need to focus on attracting companies that bring high-paying jobs to the area to reduce the amount of time residents spend commuting.
Along with the environmental benefit of less greenhouse gases emitted by vehicles, less time commuting means more time for family and volunteering in the community, making the community stronger.
BOTTOM LINE: Towns need to draw high-paying jobs to help people live, work locally.
http://www.yorkregion.com/opinion/editorial/article/1383684--towns-must-attract-high-paying-jobs