Urban Planning

Vast urban subdivisions are a uniquely North American thing. Part of the reason our suburban dream seems to have failed is because planners study plans and other planners. Sociologists study people and places.

We have at least 4 suburban housing developments covering huge swaths of land in Wasaga Beach. I do not know of a single little convenience store, fruit stand, green grocer, bakery, cafe, pub or ice cream shot anywhere with in them. 

Our Planners tend to favour "service plazas" as the solution.

Anyone who has traveled through Europe and their small towns know this. Stores are typically attached to or built into local homes. There is one or 2 on just about every street. You are never more than 2 blocks from "something".

This works in Europe because the business owners, own the building. Lower over all cost means the can earn a little income with much fewer customers.

In North America we shy away from this model, because we like neat and orderly. Then there's always a few that will strongly object to what they see as a nuisance factor.    

If Wasaga truly wants to be more family friendly and more "walkable" we need to take a serious long look at the European Village model.

We just do not have enough people and traffic year round to make Mom & Pop business sustainable if the have to pay commercial rent in plazas!   

Have you been to towns like this around the world?

What was your experience like in them.

Would you be OK with a little convenience store or barber opening a half block down the road from you?

Have you though you'd like to start a little summer ice cream bar out of your double car garage?