Saskatoon
Pilot Butte residences, work facilities and family parks
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Urban sprawl is a universal problem but the Faculty of City Planning of Saskatchewan Uni has proposed a scholarly & practical scheme. Prof Avi Akkerman said a bedroom community is one where there would be few people in the day, as they commute for jobs or study. Some growing communities have now developed their own business communities and recreational centres, which means they weren’t empty in the day. Called exurban communities, the communities are autonomous, independent of mother city.
The predictable growth of Saskatchewan’s exurban communities, now 288,000, is expected. Land was relatively cheap, agents enticed people to buy cheaper homes, and banks enticed people to take out the cheaper mortgages. And COVID-19 was probably a minor motive for people choosing to move out of large cities. Prof Akkerman acknowledged that the factors that once drew people to the exurban communities could be changing. Inflation is higher now, so costs are rising. While a longer commute may have not been a concern when petrol prices were relatively low, a volatile energy market could change the price of driving to the big city office.
Town councils have created a plan so that the structure can support the growth. Most Mayors welcomed the town's growth, saying they are prepared for even more people. More programmes and services that the residents want are being built but still with a small-town feel
In Jan 2021 Saskatoon was identified as one of Canada's top 10 fastest-growing urban centres. Despite economic challenges and dealing with the COVID, Saskatoon emerged with a strong future. Its growth of 7.6% from 2016-21 was impressive given the global crisis. The city offers a high quality of life, safety, controlled traffic congestion and many outdoor spaces that are for pleasure. And with plans to accommodate up to a million people, Saskatoon is continuously growing and developing.
As Saskatoon expands, surrounding small towns are also growing. These towns are developing unique identities beyond Saskatoon's influence, themselves attractive destinations actively shaping their own futures. Many families seek a small-town lifestyle near a larger city, so they are enhancing community services to build their own economic and cultural services. Eg Brighton Towns on Delainey (pop 14,500), has different townhouses available, communal green space, a community centre, pet walks and family bike spaces. With modern architecture, large windows and high-end finishings, the houses are an excellent move en route to buying a home.
Does Saskatoon need a $2-billion perimeter highway? As developers design new subdivisions near the city, some urban planners are rethinking the proposed perimeter highway. The bypass, first proposed 20 years ago, would now cut right through the growing city. So before spending enormous money, the planners have to look at the big picture.. which has changed. The province recently released a map showing the path of a proposed Saskatoon Freeway. A working group including staff from the many of the rural municipalities is having consultations with landowners who may be affected by the bypass.
Traffic on old Circle Drive East piled up,
CBC
Saskatchewan's Ministry of Highways published this route
for the Saskatoon Freeway in 2018,
CBC Canada
asks to move beyond viewing the neighbouring communities as mere bedroom communities. Towns like White City and Warman developed their business and recreational facilities, gaining a level of autonomy from larger cities. This growth is driven by affordable housing and a desire for more space.
affordable family homes, Warman.
Brighton Towns on Delainey
Colliers Rentals
Rising costs from higher mortgages and pricier petrol are making life more expensive for commuters. So bringing jobs closer to home is a wise decision. Employed Saskatoon residents wouldn’t drop their jobs because of attempts to bring more industry elsewhere eg Martensville doesn’t have to compete with its big neighbour, Saskatoon. Rather it will find niches that aren’t completely filled eg small workshops near workers’ residences. It won’t stop commuting into Saskatoon, but lowering the number of people driving every day would help the environment and reduce the drivers’ financial loads.
Demography is becoming more critical in understanding & managing the environment and population increases have growing negative impacts. Thus demography becomes an important complement to environmental science. But in a recent poll, 23% of people thought the city's roads was the top issue in the civic election campaign (CBC News).
Conclusion
If costs continue to grow for taxpayers, there are fewer resources to repair and replace the ageing structure in inner Saskatoon. While Prof Akkerman didn't believe the solution was to build only high-rise towers, it was important to use the space that residents already used. And Saskatoon needs to declare an urban growth boundary around it to mark the city’s outer limits.
Professor Avi Akkerman
Education News Canada
Thanks to CBC News Sep 2016; April 2019; and Mar 2022.